Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients

Makes one (12-inch/30-cm) pizza

• 1 oz/25 g fresh yeast or 2 (1/4-oz/7 -g) packages active dry yeast

• about 2/3 cup/150 ml warm water

• 3 cups/450 g all purpose/plain flour + 1/2 cup/75 g to sprinkle work surface

• 1/2 tsp salt

Method:

1. Place the fresh or active dry yeast in a small bowl. If using fresh yeast, crumble it with your fingertips.

2. Add half the warm water and stir until the yeast has dissolved. Set the mixture aside for 15 minutes. It will look creamy when ready. Stir well.

3. Place the flour in a large bowl and sprinkle with the salt. 

4. Make a hollow in the center and pour in the yeast mixture, the remaining water, and any other ingredients listed in the recipe. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture. Stir well until the flour has almost all been absorbed.

5. Knead the dough following the instructions for bread dough method.

6. To shape the pizza, place the dough in the pizza pan and use your fingertips to press it out, stretching it as you go, until it covers the pan. Set aside for 10 minutes before adding the topping. This will give the dough time to regain some volume and will make the crust lighter and more appetizing.

7. To make calzones, proceed as for pizza, giving the dough a round shape. Place the topping on one half of the disk only, leaving a 1-inch (2.5-cm) border around the edge. Fold the other half over the filling and press the edges together with your fingertips to seal.