Pizza is a flat leavened dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and other ingredients of choice.
Some pre-cursors to the pizza we know today can be seen as early as the 6th century. Back then, Persian soldiers would bake flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of it. Later on, people started to top their breads off with garlic, salt, lard, and cheese. It was only in the 18th century in Naples, Italy did we see the pizza we all know. The modern day pizza is credited to Raffaele Esposito who made the popular Pizza Margherita back in 1889. The Pizza only became popular after World War II when soldiers stationed in Italy came back home with the hopes of eating more of it.
Ingredients
Homemade Pizza Dough
2 and 1/2 cups (300 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast (or SAF instant yeast)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
7 ounces warm water (105 degrees F – 115 degrees F)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons semolina or all-purpose flour, for the pizza peel (divided)
Pizza Sauce
1 cup pureed or crushed San Marzano (or Italian plum) canned tomatoes
2-3 fresh garlic cloves, minced with a garlic press
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2-3 large pinches of kosher salt
Toppings
2-3 tablespoons finely grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
7 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (*preferably fresh mozzarella not packed in water)
5 – 6 large fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnishing
crushed dried red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Prepare Pizza Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the warm water and olive oil, and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until the dough just begins to come together. It will seem shaggy and dry, but don’t worry.
Scrape the dough onto a well-floured counter top and knead the dough for three minutes. It should quickly come together and begin to get sticky. Dust the dough with flour as needed - it should be slightly tacky, but should not be sticking to your counter top. After three minutes, the dough should be smooth, slightly elastic, and tacky. Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with olive oil, and place the dough into the bowl.
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel (or plastic wrap) and allow the dough to rise in a warm, dry area of your kitchen for 2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size. If your kitchen is very cold, one great tip is to heat a large heatproof measuring cup of water in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Immediately remove the cup and place the bowl with the dough in the microwave until it has risen, this creates a nice warm environment.
Preheat Oven and Pizza Stone: Place the pizza stone on the center (or top third) rack of your oven, and preheat the oven and pizza stone to 550 degrees Fahrenheit (for at least 30-45 minutes). If your oven does not go up to 550 degrees, heat it to the absolute maximum temperature that it can go. If it can heat to higher than 550 degrees Fahrenheit, even better!
As the oven is preheating, assemble the ingredients. In a small bowl, stir together the pureed tomatoes, minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, pepper, and salt. Set aside another small bowl with the cubed mozzarella cheese (pat the cheese with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture). Set aside the basil leaves and grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese for easy grabbing.
Separate the dough into two equal-sized portions. It will deflate slightly, but that is OK. Place the dough on a large plate or floured counter top, cover gently with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Assemble the Pizza: Sprinkle the pizza peel (alternatively, you can use the back of a baking sheet – but it will be harder!) with a tablespoon of semolina. Gently stretch one ball of pizza dough into roughly a 10-inch circle (don’t worry if its not perfectly uniform). If the dough springs back or is too elastic, allow it to rest for an additional five minutes. The edges of the dough can be slightly thicker, but make sure the center of the dough is thin (you should be able to see some light through it if you held it up). Gently transfer the dough onto the semolina-dusted pizza peel or baking sheet.
Drizzle or brush the dough lightly with olive oil (teaspoon or so). Using a large spoon, add roughly 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce onto the pizza dough, leaving a 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch border on all sides. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly and thinly. Sprinkle a tablespoon of parmigiano-reggiano cheese onto the pizza sauce. Add half of the cubed mozzarella, distributing it evenly over the entire pizza. Using your hands, tear a few large basil leaves, and sprinkle the basil over the pizza. Gently slide the pizza from the peel onto the heated baking stone. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling and caramelized and the edges of the pizza are golden brown. Remove the pizza carefully from the oven with the pizza peel, transfer to a wooden cutting board or foil, drizzle the top with olive oil, some grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, and chiffonade of fresh basil. Slice and serve immediately and/or prepare the second pizza.
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