Description
Gourmet style pizza blends Italian culinary traditions with modern kitchen creativity. Crispy crust, premium ingredients, and balanced flavors promise a delightful dining experience you’ll savor with every delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Dough:
- 3.5 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour for a chewier crust)
- 1 packet (2.25 teaspoons) instant yeast
- 1.25 cups warm water (110°F / 45°C)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Pizza Sauce:
- 1 can (14 ounces / 400 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 minced garlic clove)
- 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon sugar (balances acidity, optional)
Toppings:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional, for extra flavor)
- Pepperoni
- Mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Olives
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (for extra Italian flavor)
Instructions
- Activate yeast by combining it with warm water and sugar, allowing the mixture to become frothy and develop for approximately 5 minutes.
- Create a soft, elastic dough by incorporating flour, salt, and olive oil, then thoroughly kneading on a lightly dusted surface until the texture becomes smooth and cohesive.
- Allow the dough to rise in a greased container, covered, until it doubles in volume – typically requiring 1-1.5 hours in a warm environment.
- Craft a robust pizza sauce by gently simmering crushed tomatoes with aromatic herbs, garlic, and seasonings until the mixture thickens and develops deep, rich flavors.
- Prepare the pizza workspace by heating the oven and a pizza stone to intense temperatures around 475F, ensuring a crisp cooking surface.
- Roll the risen dough into a thin, circular shape with gentle, even pressure, maintaining a consistent thickness across the surface.
- Transfer the dough carefully onto a parchment-lined surface, spreading a delicate layer of prepared sauce from the center outwards.
- Generously distribute mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses across the sauce, creating an even, inviting layer of dairy richness.
- Arrange selected toppings strategically, ensuring balanced coverage and potential flavor combinations.
- Sprinkle dried oregano and a light drizzle of olive oil to enhance the pizza’s aromatic profile.
- Bake the pizza until the crust transforms into a golden-brown masterpiece and the cheese melts into bubbling, slightly caramelized perfection.
- Allow the pizza to rest momentarily after removing from the oven, then slice and serve while maintaining optimal temperature and crispness.
Notes
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot to ensure perfect rising and soft, airy crust texture.
- Use instant or active dry yeast interchangeably, adjusting water temperature accordingly for best activation.
- Experiment with whole wheat or gluten-free flour blends to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising taste.
- Prep pizza sauce in advance and refrigerate for up to 5 days, intensifying flavor and saving cooking time.
- Prevent soggy crust by patting down wet toppings and using a thin layer of sauce to maintain crispy bottom.
- Customize pizza for vegetarian diets by replacing cheese with nutritional yeast or plant-based cheese alternatives.
- Enhance flavor complexity by mixing different cheese types like provolone, fontina, or goat cheese with traditional mozzarella.
- Achieve restaurant-style crispy crust by using a pizza stone or preheating a heavy baking sheet for maximum heat transfer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg