I have a bread-maker that gets used alot for this recipe, but I have made the same dough in a bowl before (if you do it in a bowl, use LOTS of flour for the dough when you start to shape it - It can be very sticky!)
Whether you do it in a bowl or bread maker, always add the water first, although if you have a bread maker check the instructions as some bread makers have the yeast added as the first ingredient rather than the last.

You will need

a large oven tray
a large rolling pin
a clean worktop or large rolling/cutting board
a large bowl, if your making it in a bowl
a small bowl for the pizza sauce
a pizza cutter or sharp knife for cutting the pizza

For the dough:
400g white bread flour
about half a small cupful of water, probably around 250/300ml
1 table spoon olive oil
1 tea spoon of salt
1 tea spoon of sugar
1 tea spoon fast action yeast


For the pizza sauce:
2 tins or tubes of tomato puree
2 cloves of garlic, skinned and finally chopped, or crushed in a garlic crusher if you have one (you can add just one or omit it if your not keen on it)
salt and pepper
Some fresh basil, chopped or torn
If you want a bit of kick to it, add some Lea & Perrins or some tobasco sauce and mix it in.

You will also need some cheese, to go on top of the pizza when its done. Stronger ones are best, like parmesan and mature cheddar but you can use milder ones if you want.

When making the dough, put the water in first, then add the olive oil. After this, put the bread flour you have weighed out into the bowl/bread maker.

The flour will float on top of the water in a layer, but be gentle so it doesn't break. You need it to stay together so you can you can add the salt and sugar on top of it. Add the salt and sugar into seperate corners, then make a small dent in the middle of the flour mound and finally, add the yeast into the little dent.

Turn the bread maker setting onto "dough" or "pizza dough" setting. If your making it in a bowl, start turning the ingredients with your hands so it all clumps together. If the dough is liquidy, it will need more flour until it is a dough-like consistency. If the dough is stiff and dry, it'll need more water.

Most bread makers spend about 30mins to an hour providing very gentle heat to the dough so that it rises once its mixed it all.
If your making it in a bowl, once you have made a good dough, cover the top of the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave it for about an hour (if it needs longer, leave it to rise more).

Whilst your waiting for the dough, make the sauce and then chop/prepare any toppings you want to add to the pizza.

Once the dough has risen, it will be like a pizza dough usually is - firm but stretchy. Chuck some flour onto a rolling board or clean work top, put the dough down and kneed it for a few mins. Then shape it and press it, and then roll it with the rolling pin until its nice and flat. Grease the oven tray with olive oil. If you want a thinner crust for your pizza can keep rolling, but be careful with it when transfering it to the oven tray.

Put the pizza sauce in the middle of the pizza, then spread it around until it is evenly covered in a nice layer.

Add all your preffered toppings you prepared earlier, then finally add a layer of cheese. Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees (if you have a fan assisted one put it down to 190). Put the pizza in on the top or middle shelf of your oven, leave it in for 10mins, then take it out and turn the tray around. Doing this gives you a nice evenly cooked crust on the outside of the pizza. Leave it in for 10mins more, or until the cheese and the crust look nicely cooked and golden.

Take the pizza out the oven and cut it first into quarters, then cut each quarter in half. That way you get nice neat slices.

Then enjoy your pizza!

I used to precook my pizza crust -- about halfway.  then put on the sauce and toppings.  It was just less soggy.  

also let the pizza sit for about 10 minutes after cooking to cool before you cut it.   It is less messy and you will not be as likely to burn your mouth.

some good topping for pizza

sliced pepperoni, salami
cooked chicken bits
shredded carrot
sliced raw mushrooms  (canned are ok but not as good)
bell peppers
pineapple tidbits
barely cooked bacon
thinly sliced onions
sliced tomatoes
partially cooked broccoli

Finnally, some pizza

I LOVE tomatoes. My favourite combo to make on a pizza is sort of like a "meatfeast" pizza - lots of salami, garlic sausage and chicken and pepperoni. I want to try some broccoli on a pizza as I've heard its nice, and I like broccoli, especially steamed.

Another way for the base is to use lard rubbed into flour first. Dissolve skim milk powder, compressed yeast and salt in water. Then add this mix to the lard treated flour. Use a dough hook on a mixer, slow. I cannot remember the quantities but its not sticky if done right. Knead, cut roll into appropriate amounts. Let sit on bench, let rise, spread out over pizza tray, let rise again, flatten down and cook in heated oven with sauce and toppings. This was a commercial recipe. And tasty.

Why on earth don't I see mozzarella in the ingredients section?
I thought you Englishmen were strange in calling "pepperoni" a type of salami (you see, "peperoni" is Italian for bell pepper), but, seriously, a pizza isn't pizza without tomato sauce and mozzarella.


P.s. I actually understand that decent mozzarella may not be easy or cheap to find in the u.s.a. , it just shocked me to see it not listed.

I make pizza quite a bit - good thread! yum

Mozzarella is everywhere - here in the US... maybe in Uk they don't have any? And using the "wet moz" the good stuff on a pizza is a waste - use low moisture mozzarella...
(LOL)  "healthy" pizza ia any pizza that has stuff where the cheese would be - the less cheese the better it is for you fat wise...

micgrace ? um ...lard?

This post was last modified: 10-11-2011 02:13 PM by windy.

sorry.  I just assumed that pizza had to have mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce on it.

When I think about it - actually I made a pizza without tomato sauce or mozzarella.  It had thinly sliced potatoes, onions, some oregano and basil, olive oil and parmesan cheese on it.  

I think that in some parts of Asia, it might be difficult to find mozzarella or most types of cheeses.

add to list olives, anchovies, hot chiles -- which I am not fond of but other people I know like.

This post was last modified: 10-11-2011 03:36 PM by M.

lard is refined animal fat. In other words commercial made bases are super fatty. This mix is designed for speed of production not health. Use some margarine or olive oil instead.

My little girl makes amazing pizza! She's 6 and it's all her own recipe.

2 cups plain flour
1 sachet dried yeast
About 1/2 cup water and a splash of lemonade
Pinch of salt
She mixes it all together and kneads it and leaves for 1/2 hour in the airing cupboard.
Knead your dough with the heel of your hands into a pizza base
Get a big ol lump of butter and mix in a crushed garlic clove and spread all over the top
Lay lots of different types of salami on top and cook on 190' for about 15 minutes.

She won her schools mini masterchef with it!

:O

more kids should learn to cook like that.  Some people think that kids can not do that.

She loves to cook, I only ever help with the oven. The rest she insists on doing herself.
I wish I had her independence and confidence now, let alone when I was 6.

Thats really good!

I really like cooking with my torrie lol, she made some short bread which tasted really nice.

This post was last modified: 10-15-2011 03:08 PM by Abbi.

I agree that you need mozzarella on pizza. Other kinds of cheese can be added. Tomato sauce is important, but it can be replaced with something else. Two of my favorites are pesto potato pizza (pesto instead of tomato sauce, sliced potatoes, and roasted garlic, plus I think parmesan) and bbq chicken (bbq sauce instead of tomato sauce, chicken, and carmelized onions).

If you're looking for a quick, easy meal, especially for a family, you can use bagels or English muffins as pizza crust. Kids love it. Just set out the toppings and let them use whatever they want on it.