How To Make Pizza From Scratch

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

• 1 1/2 cups warm water

• 3 Tablespoons olive oil

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 teaspoon white vinegar

• 3 3/4 - 4 cups bread flour (bread flour works best, but all purpose works fine)

Instructions

• In a large bowl of a stand mixer combine 1/2 cup of the warm water with the sugar and yeast. Stir to dissolve the yeast and let rest for 5 minutes.

• Add the remaining 1 cup of warm water, and the olive oil, salt and vinegar.

• Begin mixing on medium-low speed, gradually adding the flour, and knead the dough for about 7 minutes, or until it's smooth and elastic. The dough should be slightly sticky, but not so sticky that it really sticks to your fingertip when touched. 

• Cover the bowl with a dry towel and allow to rest in a warm place until doubled in volume--about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

• Gently punch the dough down and place on a lightly greased or floured counter top. Divide the dough into 2 or 3 equal pieces (depending on how thick you want your crust/how big you want your pizza. I make three medium size, thinner crust pizzas. But you could make two larger pizzas). 

• Roll and stretch your dough to desired size and thickness. 

• Allow the dough to rest while you preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. If you have a pizza stone (or want to use a baking tray) place it in the oven while it preheats. 

• Brush pizza dough lightly with olive oil and prick it all over with a fork. Pre-bake the dough on a hot pizza stone or in pizza pan for 6 minutes.