Make Pizza at Home

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Pizza at HomeHomemade pizza night is a weekly occurrence at our house. For many of us, there is simply nothing that quite matches homemade pizza for appealing to all of us – it’s infinitely flexible, incredibly cheap, fun to make (and it gets everyone involved, even the small children), and quite delicious. Best of all, if you plan ahead a bit, it doesn’t take long to make, either – you can have a made-from-scratch pizza on the table in a half an hour if you’ve done some reasonable prep work the night before. Here’s a step-by-step guide (along with some surprising and unusual hints) for making some great homemade pizza for your family.





What You Need

Ingredients 


  1. 1 pound pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
  2. 1/2 to 1 cup sauce: tomato sauce, white sauce, or other spread
  3. 2 to 3 cups other toppings: sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, pepperoni, cooked sausage, cooked bacon, diced peppers, leftover veggies, or any other favorite toppings
  4. 1 to 2 cups (8-16 ounces) cheese, shredded or sliced: mozzarella, monterey jack, provolone, fontina, or any other favorite.
  5. Cornmeal or flour (optional)



Equipment



  1. Pizza stone or baking sheet
  2. Pizza peel or baking sheet
  3. Parchment paper (optional)



Instructions



  •  Heat the Oven to 550°F or Higher: Do not be afraid to really crank the heat up to its highest setting. The high heat will help make a crunchier and more flavorful crust. Let the oven heat for at least a half an hour before baking your pizzas. If you've a baking stone, place it in the lower-middle of your oven.
  •  Divide the Dough in Half: One pound of dough makes two 10-inch pizzas. Slice the dough in half and cover one half with an upside-down bowl or a clean kitchen towel while you prepare the first pizza.
  • Roll Out the Dough:



Method #1: Pizza Baked on Parchment: 

Tear off a large piece of parchment paper roughly 12-inches wide. Working with one piece of the dough at a time, form it into a large disk with your hands and lay this on the parchment paper. Use hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is 1/4-inch thick or less. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for five minutes and then continue rolling.


Method #2: Pizza with Cornmeal or Flour and a Baking Stone: 

Sprinkle a handful of cornmeal or flour on a pizza peel or the back of a baking sheet. Working with one piece of the dough at a time, form it into a large disk with your hands and lay this on the peel. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is 1/4-inch thick or less. Shake the peel or baking sheet frequently as you shape to make sure the dough is not sticking. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for five minutes and then continue rolling.


Method #3: Pizza Baked on a Baking Sheet: 

Brush a thin film of olive oil on a baking sheet. Working with one piece of the dough at a time, form it into a large disk with your hands and then lay this on the baking sheet. Use  hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it is 1/4-inch thick or less. If the dough starts to shrink back, let it rest for five minutes and then continue rolling.



  • Top the Pizza: Spoon a few tablespoons of sauce into the center of the pizza and use the back of a spoon to spread this out to the edges. Pile on all of your toppings.



  •  Bake the Pizza: Using a pizza peel or the backside of a baking sheet, slide your pizza (with the parchment or with the cornmeal) onto the baking stone. If you do not have a baking stone, bake the pizza right on the baking sheet. Cook for 5 minutes, after that rotate the pizza. Slide the parchment out from under the pizza, if used. Bake for another 3-5 minutes, until the crust is golden-brown and the cheese looks toasty.




  • Slice and Serve: Let the pizza cool slightly on a cooling rack, just until you are able to handle it. Slice it into pieces and then serve.


That's it.Hope you enjoyed this article.Now it's time to give it a try and share the result with us through the comment box.

9 comments:

  1. Home made pizza is great since you have full control on the ingredients.

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  2. Homemade pizza's good for family during the weekend... eating and bonding. I'll try this recipe.

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  3. I love home made pizza bec.i get to overload on stuff i love like cheese and bellpeppers!

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  4. My kids and I love making pizza, But I buy the ready made pizza crust or a pita bread is also a great idea but i bake it for 2 minutes just enough for the cheese to melt.

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  5. Yum! I crave for pizza all the time, and I bet that this is much healthier than store bought versions.

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  6. I love pizza! I want to make one but its a lot of work to do so I just have to buy one instead. haha

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  7. Thank you for the recipe! It really is easier to make your own food esp during this weather where it gets tiresome to go outside

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  8. Thanks for the recipe - I have to bookmark this. I ended failing pizzas every single time! :(

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  9. I am sharing this to my wife, she was telling me that she wants to make one, and make use of the oven i sent her

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