It’s Thursday, and the week has been nothing short of exhausting. You have powered through endless emails, and the never-ending-to-do list. Now all you crave is comfort-something warm, cheesy and utterly satisfying.
Try out this homemade, freshly baked pizza-the perfect way to unwind and reward yourself for making it this far.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (7g) instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¾ cup of warm water
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
For the pizza sauce:
- 1 cup of canned tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder or 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
For the toppings (customisable):
- 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup of pepperoni slices (or any meat of choice)
- ½ cup of sliced mushrooms
- ¼ cup of sliced black olives
- ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Method:
- Make the dough:
- In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, salt and sugar
- Add warm water and olive oil, then mix until a dough forms
- Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until smooth
- Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size
2. Prepare the sauce:
- In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and sugar
- Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes, then remove from heat
3. Assemble the pizza:
- Preheat your oven to 220°C
- Roll out the dough into a circle on a floured surface and transfer it to a greased baking tray or pizza stone
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese, then add your favourite toppings
4. Bake the pizza:
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown
5. Serve and enjoy:
- Remove from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, garnish with fresh basil, and slice it up!