Who does not like a good pizza? We used to buy pizzas from our local pizza shop at least once a week. We have tried all their available varieties and like most of them. Then one day I thought, If I can make my own Pizza from scratch, I can add any toppings I want and try new things.
With that thought in mind I tried making pizza at home. The first one I tried came out OK. Not bad but was also not great, just OK. Then after a few tries with different steps, found the best one that worked for us. I have cooked Pizza more than 15 times with this method and its always a hit. Tried different toppings and every one of them was awesome. This was from my kids. That was good to hear and they finish their pizza with toppings all the time.
Lets start with the ingredients. I have listed the ratio and items required to make pizza with chicken and cheese and veges.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour for the dough, 1/2 cup flour to roll and spread on the pizza pan
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tblsp olive oil for the dough, 4 tbsp olive oil to brush on pizza
- 3/4 cup water
- Marinara sauce
- Chopped red onions
- Chopped fresh green pepper
- Chopped cooked chicken breast
- Shredded Mozzarella cheese 2 cups
Keep some extra flour on the side. You would use it when rolling the dough later
Steps –Now lets look at the steps to mix the dough and cook the pizza
Dough
I have listed 2 options below. The first one is using hand mixing and spatula.
Mixing by hand
- In a mixing bowl, add the flour, instant yeast, sugar and salt
- Mix gently using a plastic spatula
- Add olive oil and mix gently again
- Slowly add water and mix with the spatula until the dough is smooth and non sticky
- It is going to take a few minutes to get the right consistency
- Add a little bit more water if the dough is too dry or little bit more flour if the dough is too soft or sticky
Using an electric dough mixer
- Attach dough hook to the mixer
- Add the flower, instant yeast, sugar,salt and olive oil in the Mixing Bowl
- Mount the mixing bowl to the electric mixer
- Attach the dough hook
- Turn on the mixer to first speed and slowly add water little by little
- Let the mixer mix for about 2 minutes or until the dough is well formed and non sticky in the bowl
- Switch off the mixer and remove the dough hook
Dough is ready.
Bake
You can use the dough for one large and thick pizza, or 2 medium thin pizza’s.
- Set the oven temp to 420 degrees F and switch it on
- Using a rolling pin, roll the dough on a flat surface
- Try to get it as round as possible
- You can use nonstick cookie sheet or round pizza aluminum pan
- Lightly oil the pan and sprinkle some flour lightly
- Place the dough on the pan now
- Using a fork just tap all over the pizza dough. This ensures the dough is cooked evenly with no bubbles
- Brush olive oil over the rolled dough
- Add marinara sauce
When the oven is heated and ready
- Put the pizza in the oven and cook for about 6-8 minutes
- Use the oven light to check if the sides are a little brown
- When the edges are light brown take the pizza out from the over
- Now spread chopped red onions, green pepper and cooked chicken pieces
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese
- Add a drizzle of olive oil on the pizza and return to the oven
- Cook until the cheese is completely melted
- Take it out of the oven transfer the pizza to a cutting board.
- Let is sit for about 45 seconds before cutting it
It could look like below.
This was an instant hit in our family, and we have been making this almost every week.
Enjoy and let me know.