Pizza (homemade base)

Making your own pizza is a cool thing to do.
You create the base through love and hard work, using high grade flour and yeast.
The kneading is very important as it stretches the gluten out to make the base tough enough to support the toppings. Make sure your dough is smooth and stretchy before allowing to rise. Kneading for a good solid 10 minutes should do it.

Homemade Pizza

Equipment

Small bowl

Large bowl

Measuring cup/spoons

Rolling pin

Oven tray, oiled

Sharp knife and chopping board

Base Ingredients (per pair)

Dried yeast, 2 tsp

Lukewarm water, ½ cup

High grade flour, 1 ½ cups

Sugar, 1 tsp

Olive oil, 1 tsp

Salt, 1/2 tsp

Toppings

Tomato paste, 1 Tbsp

Onions, ½, sliced fine

Garlic, 1 clove, crushed and chopped

Cheese, Mozzarella, half cup grated

Plus toppings of your own choice (meats, sauces, vegetables)

Method

Oven on to 200⁰C.

1.    Mix yeast with warm water and sugar in a small bowl. Leave for 5-10 minutes to activate on warm stove top.

2.    Sieve the dry ingredients (flour and salt) in a large bowl and make a well in the middle.

3.    Pour activated yeast and oil into the dry ingredients and mix to form a dough.

4.    Knead the dough on a clean, floured bench until smooth and elastic (10 minutes solid).

5.    Place back in an oiled bowl and let rise on stove top for 20 minutes.

6.    Prepare the toppings while you wait.

7.    After 20 minutes, remove the dough from the bowl and knock back.

8.    Using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to a circular shape.

9.    Place the pizza dough on the oiled oven tray.

10.  Smear the tomato paste on the base.

11. Arrange the toppings and cheese.

12. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

13. Slide off the oven tray onto a chopping board and slice up.