How to make an Italian Pizza

If you want to make Italian Pizza, this is my Grandma’s basic pizza dough recipe.

Buon appetito!!

INGREDIENTS

Basic Pizza Dough

• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110F-115F)
• 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Pizza Margherita Topping

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• One 8 ounce ball  fresh fior di latte mozzarella cheese, cut into small pieces
• 12 fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in 1/2-cup warm water.
2. Allow the yeast to proof until it is foamy, about 10 minutes.
3. Add the remaining 1-cup of warm water, combining it well with the yeast.
4. Add 3 cups of the flour and the salt.
5. Mix the dough with your hands or use a mixer with a dough hook, adding the remaining flour as needed to make dough that holds together.
6. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is soft and not sticky.
7. Grease a bowl with the olive oil. Put the dough in the bowl and turn a few times to coat with the oil.
8. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let it rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
9. Preheat the oven to 425ºF.Punch down the dough and knead it for a few minutes on a lightly floured surface.
10. Punch down the dough and knead it for a few minutes on a lightly floured surface.
11. Divide the dough in half and roll each piece out on a floured surface into a 12-inch round and place the rounds on lightly oiled 13-inch pizza pans.
12. Turn in the edges  of the dough about  1/2 inch to form a rim.
13. You can stretch the dough to fit an even larger pan if you wish.
14. Place the dough on 2 wooden peels, dusted with cornmeal, if you plan to use baking stones to bake the pizza.
15. Brush each round with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
16. Slice the tomato sauce between the rounds.
17. Divide the cheese and sprinkle it on top of the sauce.
18. Divide the basil leaves and sprinkle them on top of the cheese.
19. The divide and sprinkle on the salt and the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
20. Bake the pizzas for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top and bottom crusts are nicely browned.
21. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.
22. If using baking stones, preheat the stones in a 500ºF. oven for 20 minutes.
23. Just before placing the pizza on the stone from the baking peel, sprinkle each stone with a handful of cornmeal.
24. Bake  the pizza for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crust in nicely browned on the bottom.

Buon Mangiata!

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