Okay okay, here it is: My guide to making pizza! I would just like to start by noting that this is just the way i do it and i do not claim to know what im doing, but we do like our pizza: in the last two weeks we might have had pizza 7-9 times! delicious! Okay, here we go, this is going to be a long story:
The first step is the dough. I base it on some tips i got from my brother in law ▶ the idea is one part water + one part flour, wait, repeat, wait + one part flour ▶ So for example for this portion (which will make up to six pizze) i took 2,5 dl water, added 10g yeast + some salt ▶ added 2,5 dl flour (this time i experimented and used a little full grain spelt, which worked out good)▶ and then i let it sit for an hour ▶ after the hour i add 2,5 dl water + 2,5 dl flour and waited let it rise for another hour ▶ finally i added 2,5 dl flour and split the dough into six parts ▶ i added enough flour to each part to make it firm enough to shape. not very precise instructions, i know, but you need to experiment. leave the dough for 20-30 min - i place the dough in the fridge and take it out as i make the pizze one by one.
▶ My tip about choosing flour is looking a something high in protein. This will make the dough more elastic!
▶ Now if i should choose the most important tip for making good pizza at home it is without a doubt: GET A PIZZA STONE! This is a round, flat stone that you heat up in your oven and then you bake the pizza directly on it ▶ Your oven should be turned up to the max (300 on ours) and then wait for 10-15 minutes after the oven says its hot enough. Then the pizza stone is heated all the way through and you will get the most crispy crust!
▶ Roll out a piece of dough - i use a glass bottle - in plenty of durum flour so it is completely non-sticky! ▶ place the dough on a light cutting board (you will use this to slide the pizza on to the stone - if you have a pizza peel - lucky you) ▶ then add tomato purée in a thin layer
▶ after having experimented a lot with the tomato sauce i finally settle on this very quick and easy solution with plain tomato purée -its simply the best! sometimes i will add some puréed sun dried tomatoes - thats good too. ▶ add cheese and other toppings you want baked - like sausage (i often use salchichón or chorizo) or mushrooms or thinly sliced potatoes!
▶ slide the pizza on to the hot hot pizza stone. This is difficult! Sometimes i fail. I really want a pizza peel... ▶ If you give up on the whole sliding thing, an alternative is placing the pizza on baking parchment which will slide much easier, but you will loose some of the goodness in the crust! ▶ The pizza will be done after about 7-8 minutes - this depends a lot on the oven so just check on it after a few minutes and take it out when you like how it looks.
▶ Then add any fresh toppings you desire: I like fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula, fresh basil or thyme, parmesan, chopped black olives, pesto, prosciutto... not all at the same time, but they can be combined in many delicious ways!
▶ finally i put a cup of olive oil with garlic and chopped, fresh basil on the table to drizzle over the pizza.
And there you have it! all the delicious pizza you desire! its actually really easy and quick - you can make a big batch of dough as i do and keep it in the fridge for later in the week -or in the freezer for even later! That way you avoid the only step that takes time and that you have to plan. I hope you will all go experiment and PLEASE: send me your favourite toppings! i need new inspiration!
UNGT BLOD is moving!
