The Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe

Instructions

How to make the dough:

1. Heat water to 35C

2. Add instant yeast, stirring together, and let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature.

3. In a large bowl, mix together 00- flour and fine sea salt.

4. Add all the water to the flour and mix by hand until a shaggy dough forms.

5. Cover with cling film and let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature.

6. Remove dough onto a work surface and knead using the slap and fold method for 1-2 minutes or until the dough starts to turn smooth.

7. Transfer the dough back to the bowl, cover, and let rest for 15 more minutes.

8. Slap and fold again for 1-2 minutes and place back into a bowl coated in extra virgin olive oil. Completely cover with cling film and fridge for 14-18 hours. (This might seem excessive but trust us, it’s worth it! If time is of the essence, then 1 hour should be perfect)

9. Punch all the air out of the dough. Divide dough into 5 even pieces (250 g each). Push out all the air and fold all the sides in before rolling into a taut ball seam side down. (You can use the extra dough for more incredible pizzas if you’re making more than one or use the dough for bread).

10. Add to a proofing box (or rimmed baking sheet dusted with flour), cover, and let proof at room temperature for 3-4 hours.

Making the Salsa Bellissimo:

1. Pour your Napolina tomato sauce into a bowl.
2. Peal and finely chop the garlic. Add garlic to the sauce.
3. Add the salt to the Sauce
4. Finally add your Extra Virgin Olive oil and mix until all ingredients have been stirred.
5. Give it a taste. Make sure you have enough salt and garlic to your liking as this can be very personal.

Making the Pizza:

1. Preheat the oven to max heat (Usually around 220C)
2. Place your dough on your lightly floured worktop. Lightly flour the top of your dough ball and with your fist, punch down.
3. Start spreading the dough with your knuckles. Top tip: don’t spread from the middle out as this will cause your dough to split in the middle. Spread the dough about 3 inches from the centre and push out until you can see a thicker edge building. Spread the dough making a 12 – 14 inch pizza base.
4. Collect your Sauce and with a tablespoon spread your sauce around the pizza base to your liking.
5. Collect your Grated cheese and spread it over the sauce. In my case the more cheese the better.
6. Drizzle a little bit of Extra Virgin Olive oil on top and spread your Olives evenly around your Pizza.
7. Insert your Pizza into the oven on the middle shelf for 10 – 14min tops.
8. Your Pizza should have a beautifully crisp crust and base with lovely golden melted cheese and the smell of your enriched olives.
9. Add your Oregano and basil for the finishing touch.
10. The main thing now is to enjoy the Pizza you just made. Buon Appetito tutti.