Sunday, March 23, 2014

THIS is the best Pizza EVER !!

Dough ingredients:
  • 1  1/2 tsp dry yeast
  • 1 cup water, lukewarm
  • 2 tsps sugar 
  • 1 cup bread flour
  • 1 cup all purpose flour (plus more for kneading)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • parchment paper

Sauce ingredients:
  • about 1 cup of Ragu spaghetti sauce (tomato, garlic, onion flavour)
  • 2 tbsps chopped sundried tomatoes in oil
  • 4 small garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1-2 tsps sugar
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 2-3 tbsps red wine

Toppings:
  • pepperoni
  • 2 cups mozzarella
  • mushrooms
  • green pepper
  • spinach/arugula mix
  • drizzle of spicy olive oil

So, to start the dough put the water (you can use tap water as long as it isn't hotter than 100F) in your mixing bowl.  Stir in the sugar, then sprinkle the yeast on top. Leave it to activate 15 minutes.

While waiting for the yeast turn your oven on at it's lowest temperature for 1 minute.  It doesn't even have to reach that temperature and you can turn it off again. You'll be putting your dough in the warm oven later. And take the top rack out, you'll be putting your pizza in on the bottom rack. If using, place a pizza stone on that bottom rack.

Add the salt to 1 cup of bread flour and mix into the water. Mix well, then add the all purpose flour. Add a little more flour, it might look a bit raggy.  Turn out on floured counter and knead to incorporate all. 

Put a tbsp or 2 of olive oil in a glass or metal bowl and toss the dough ball to cover. Dampen a clean dish towel and place over top of bowl. Put the bowl in the warm (turned OFF) oven. Let rise 40 minutes.

Now you can make the sauce.  Put 1 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan and toss in the sundried tomatoes and garlic. Cook on low to medium heat for only a couple of minutes.  Then add the Ragu sauce. Stir in oregano, sugar, pepper and red wine. Set aside.

Punch down dough, rest 2 minutes. Cut a baseball sized ball off and keep aside.  

Preheat oven to 510F (Yes 510)

If you are using a pizza stone, turn a pizza pan over so you are using it upside down.  Cut parchment paper to roughly fit.  (It can be bigger, not smaller than the pan) 

OK, here we go.
Take your dough and start to flatten it.  Now put it on the parchment and press to form your pizza. Or just put it in a greased pizza pan if not using a stone.

(Sorry, didn't think of taking pictures up to this point)

Spread sauce on your pie.



I put the pepperoni on next and then the cheese.


Now because we don't all like the same thing on our pizza, I put different vegetables on each side of the pie. And drizzle with spicy olive oil.
Oh ya, and put your small reserved dough ball in the center, old school style.


When you are happy with the way your pizza looks open the oven and take the edge of your parchment and CAREFULLY slide the paper and pizza onto the stone. 
Bake at 510F for 11 minutes.

Oh my God, it smells like a pizzeria in here!!

Try to wait 5 or so minutes before digging in.


You can see how good the crust looks here and how far the parchment hung over to be able to grasp it.
Don't fight over the dough ball ! 

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