Pizza is a classic comfort food loved by people of all ages. Whether you like it with a plain tomato sauce, loaded with toppings, or stuffed with cheese, pizza always hits the spot. But the key to making a great pizza is in the dough. A good pizza dough should be crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and have the perfect balance of flavors. In this article, we will be sharing the basic pizza dough recipe that you can use as a foundation for all your pizza creations.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make basic pizza dough:
3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon of active dry yeast
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 1/4 cups of warm water
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. 2. Add the warm water and olive oil to the bowl, and stir until a dough forms. 3. Use your hands to knead the dough for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic. 4. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let the dough rise for about an hour in a warm, draft-free place. 5. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead it for another minute. 6. Divide the dough into two equal portions. 7. Roll out each portion of dough into the desired thickness and shape. 8. Place the dough onto a pizza pan or baking sheet that has been lightly greased with olive oil. 9. Add your desired pizza toppings and bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Nutrition
Here is the nutritional information for one serving (1/8 of the dough recipe):
Calories: 178
Total Fat: 3g
Saturated Fat: 0.4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 293mg
Total Carbohydrate: 32g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 1g
Protein: 5g
Tips
Here are some tips to help you make the perfect pizza dough:
Use warm water, not hot or cold, to activate the yeast.
Make sure to knead the dough well to develop gluten, which gives the dough its elasticity.
Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place to help the yeast do its job.
Use a pizza stone or preheated baking sheet to help create a crispy crust.
Don't overload your pizza with toppings, as this can prevent the crust from cooking properly.
Add a sprinkle of cornmeal to the bottom of the pizza pan or baking sheet to prevent the dough from sticking.
Conclusion
Using this basic pizza dough recipe, you can create endless variations of your favorite pizza. Whether you like it simple or loaded with toppings, this dough is sure to impress. Just remember to follow the tips and tricks, and you'll be a pizza pro in no time!
