For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a pizza fanatic and have never met a pizza I didn’t like. Deep dish, thick crust, stuffed crust- I’ve tried them all. I’ve been spoiled having had some pretty amazing pies in my lifetime, but there’s nothing quite like hand-selecting special ingredients/toppings that a restaurant menu just can’t provide.
I started my hand at making pizzas in the comfort of my own home and I have to say- it’s been pretty tough to beat! On my quest for “the perfect homemade crust”, I scoured through numerous cookbooks and endless recipes, but found over and over that the finished dough would just fall flat on texture, density, and flavor. With the help of Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil, I have been able to make a dough that’s quick to rise, easy to prepare, and tastes head and shoulders above the rest!
-2 teaspoons active dry yeast
-1 teaspoon sugar
-1 cup warm water
-3 Tablespoons Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-2 teaspoons salt
-2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
-2 ½ cups all purpose flour
-Your favorite pizza toppings!
-Mix yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large bowl (you can also use a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook). Let stand 3-4 minutes until yeast begins to foam.
-Add Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Italian seasonings, and salt to yeast mixture.
-Stir in the flour until dough starts to come together.
-The dough should pull itself into a ball as you stir but should still be slightly sticky to the touch. If the dough is too dry, add a splash of water or olive oil and stir or knead to work the liquid into the dough.
-Cover dough with a wet tea towel and let it rest for 15 minutes.
-Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll or shape normally.
-Dress the pizza with your favorite toppings and finish it off with a light drizzle of Graza Extra Virgin Olive Oil on top! Bake at 450°F for 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is browned.
