Slow-Rise Pizza Crust

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of active dry yeast
  • 2 1/2 cups of bread blour
  • 1 Tablespoon of sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of sea salt
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • (for flavored crust, add chopped fresh herbs or other seasonings as desired)

To prepare the dough in a bread machine:

Add ingredients in the order listed.  Set on dough cycle for a 1.5 lb loaf.  When the machine says the dough is ready, leave in longer so the dough has an extra chance to rise.   This will make the crust more workable and less elastic, for a perfect, tasty pizza.

To prepare the dough by hand:

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well.   Once everything is together well, knead the dough (dusting with a little flour if too sticky) until a soft, smooth ball forms.  Place in a bowl, cover with a towel, and leave in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size.   Remove from the bowl and knead again, until the dough is smooth.  Let rise a second time, until the dough has more than doubled.

To prepare the pizza crust:

If you have a well-seasoned pizza stone, heat in the oven at 375 degrees while you prepare the crust.  Remove dough from bowl or machine pan and place on a large board that has been dusted with corn meal.   Form the dough into a disc and roll it out with a rolling pin.  If it is still not as large as your stone or baking sheet, you can try stretching it gently by lifting it off the board, draping the dough over your fists, and working around the circle by punching your fists into the dough.  If you want to impress your children, or give them a good laugh, you can try tossing it in the air, spinning the dough with each toss.  This will certainly make a mess, but leave the audience happy.

Once the dough is the correct size, place on the hot pizza stone or baking sheet and brush with a little olive oil.  Bake blind for at least 10 minutes, but up to 20 if you like a crispier crust.  Remove from the oven and top with your favorite ingredients.

Pizza topping suggestions:

Pesto, roasted red peppers, onions, shiitake mushrooms, sliced okra, sliced zucchini or squash, roasted eggplant, sliced tomatoes, and sliced fresh mozzarella.  Bake at 400 degrees until done.

Filed under: Seasonal Food Recipes on September 1st, 2009 | Comments Off

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