Every Friday night since I can remember has been pizza night, but we never ordered from some pizza joint such as Papa John’s, Cici’s Pizza, or Little Caeser’s. We always used fresh, homemade crust, shredded our own mozzarella, cut the veggies, fired up the baking stone, and watched a movie together. Tradition, as some might say. Don’t get me wrong—pizza isn’t all too healthy for you, especially if you’re buying it from a pizza shop because who knows whats in the crust, or the cheese, or the GMO veggies. But we use mozzarella cheese and vegetables from Whole Foods or EarthFare, and we make our dough using a recipe we can trust.
Do you have a favorite pizza dough recipe? Have you ever made homemade pizza? If you answered “no” to both of those, you are in dire need of help. Your wish is my command. One great pizza dough recipe worth making over and over again. This recipe is pretty versatile considering that you can do a half and half mixture of whole wheat and unbleached all-purpose. I have tried so many different ratios that it all tastes the same to me. Obviously, if you wanted a healthier pizza, I would definitely recommend a half and half mixture. But this healthy homemade pizza crust is sure to be a great base for great pizzas.
This also a great recipe for kids to help with. It’s hands-on and every kid loves pizza. I still remember when I was in kindergarten, my sister got invited to a pizza party a girl named Anna’s house. Anna had a little sister. Lord—I forget her name, let’s call her Ellen. Ellen and I were good friends so I was also invited to the pizza party. We had so much fun. I wanted to make my daddy feel special, so I made a ham and pineapple pizza to take home to him. He thought it was the sweetest thing ever. But I remember how fun it was to make personal pizzas, or even make a pizza by myself. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget, so I hope you share it with your family.
The possibilities for toppings are truly endless, unless your diet is restricted with vegetarianism, veganism, or eating gluten-free. The pizza on the left is a great example of a vegetarian pizza. Below are examples of possible toppings to put on your pizza.
Standard (no dietary restrictions):
- Pizza Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Pepperoni or Sausage
- Olives
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Bell Peppers
Vegetarian:
- Pizza Sauce
- Mozzarella
- Olives
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Bell Peppers
- Possibly tofu
Vegan:
- Pizza Sauce
- Vegan Cheese
- Olives
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Bell Peppers
- Possibly tofu
Here’s the recipe:
- 3½ – 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast (or one packet)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1½ cups lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (other oil will work as well)
- additional flour for rolling out the dough
- Combine the dry ingredients, starting with 3½ cups of flour in a large bowl or standing mixer. Add the water and oil, and mix until the dough forms into a ball. Add additional flour as needed until the dough just starts to no longer stick to the sides of the bowl. Knead until it forms a firm ball.
- Cover and let rise until doubled (45 min – 1 hour). Punch the dough down and divide into two equal portions.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to desired thickness (between ½ and ¼ inch thick). Let rest 10 minutes. Top as desired and bake for 18-22 minutes.
Leave a Reply