Pizza Base

Who loves pizza? Everyone does! And we love going out to grab some. But then there are days when you just feel enthusiastic enough to custom make some for yourself with your favourite toppings, jussst the way you like it!

So let's just get straight to it!
[For our delicious pizza sauce recipe check: Pizza Sauce]



You will need (for two 8inch thick bases) :

2 tsp Active Dry Yeast

1 tsp Sugar

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1.5 cups (185 gm) All-Purpose Flour (Maida)

½ tsp Salt

½ cup (125 ml) of lukewarm water (not hot, you should be able to dip your finger with ease)

Method:

1. Place the yeast and sugar in a bowl. Stir in the lukewarm (not hot or cold, else you will shock the yeast) water together in a bowl. Mix well. Let sit until bubbly or frothy, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Dry yeast and sugar

The yeast 15 mins after adding warm water

2. In another bowl place the flour and salt, pour in the olive oil. Pour in the bubbly yeast mixture. Mix well and start kneading to form a single ball of dough. Add water or flour little by little only if needed.

Prepping to make dough

3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board (or kitchen platform) and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes.

Working the dough

4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, coat all sides with oil. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 40 to 50 mins.

Little ball of dough waiting to double

Whoa! And how it doubled!

5. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and loosely shape into rounds. Lightly flour a work surface. Using your fingers or the heels of your hands, stretch the disks to circles — or shapes! — that are 8 inches in diameter.

6. Pierce the base all over with a fork.

Pizza base ready for blind baking

Blind bake your pizza before you arrange the sauce and toppings.

Blind baking:

1. Place the pizza base on a flat aluminium surface.

2. Bake your base in the oven at 200 C for about 12 to 15 mins, till it has achieved a slightly golden brown texture. Keep a watch so that you don't over bake it!

3. Remove the base from the oven and ta-da! Its ready for the toppings!

Now all you got to do is spread the sauce on your pizza base, add your favourite toppings and bake for just about 10-12 minutes!

Suggestions for toppings:

Onions, capsicum, mushroom, olives, corn, sundried tomatoes, spinach, fresh basil, any kind of meat (make sure you lightly stir fry any raw meat in some oil and seasoning before using it as topping)- chicken, sausages, salami, regular cheese, parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, ANY cheese in fact!