September 29th, 2009
Simple homemade Pizza dough
Why go through the ordeals (if one may say so) of making a pizza at home when piping hot pizza will be on its way home after a few minutes of placing an order over a telephone?
Simply because it is quite easy, gratifying and thrilling to make your own pizza! These are my reasons for making my own. People who make their own stuff will vouch for it. Apart from the looks of appreciation and delight you receive from your folks, which in my humble opinion should be reason enough to make a pizza at home, a pizza made at home from scratch scores on many fronts.
As much as I enjoy a piping hot pizza that arrives within half an hour of me disconnecting the phone, I’m always skeptical if not uncomfortable about the ingredients used. It is definitely not something that I would dare to eat often.
But when I make a pizza at home, I’m in total control of what goes into its making. The organic wheat flour, healthy vegetables and fresh cheese that I use ensure a fret-free bite.
I made my first pizza from the book Great Vegetarian Dishes. I arrived at the recipe given below after testing many yeast-flour combinations.
My cousin’s visit was followed by another visit from her younger sister who happens to be another huge fan of my 6 ½ month old. Raksha spoke about Harivansh and his antics to her younger sister Vedika for an entire day. When Vedika’s study holidays were announced no one could stop her from visiting to see her nephew, in her own words.
Vedika is a huge fan of pizza and I had to make some for her. I used a topping of sliced red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, olives and mozzarella cheese with a sprinkling of some dried oregano and pepper, ingredients that were available on hand. Vedika enjoyed every bite of her pizza, as much as I enjoyed making it for her.
Simple homemade Pizza dough Recipe
This is a versatile pizza dough and you can use any combination of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, etc. The crust is crisp and on the thinner side. For the Pizza pictured above I have used a combination of sliced red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, olives and mozzarella cheese with a sprinkling of some dried oregano and pepper
Ingredients:
185 gm (1 ½ cup) plain flour
Or
¾ cup whole wheat flour and ¾ cup plain flour
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
125 ml (1/2 cup) lukewarm water
¾ tsp sugar
1 ¼ tsp active dried yeast
Method:
In a bowl, add the sugar, yeast and water and allow to stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
Sift the flour (or flours if using a combination of whole wheat flour and plain flour) and the salt in a large bowl, make a well in the centre, add the yeast mixture and the oil and mix into a firm dough. Knead briefly until the dough is smooth and elastic, about a minute or two. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and leave in a warm place for an hour or two hours, until it is double in size.
Punch the dough until it is reduced in size, knead into a small ball. Preheat your oven at its maximum temperature, about 250 degree centigrade(475 degree F or gas mark 9) and on a lightly floured surface, roll into an approximately 10” base.
Carefully transfer the rolled pizza dough to a lightly oiled/greased baking sheet or pizza stone. Spread with a tomato sauce if desired and sprinkle the toppings of your choice over the pizza, leaving a 1/4″ border around the edges. Toss in some good cheese for added measure.
Bake it for about 10 minutes, until the edges are nicely browned and the pizza looks irresistible.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Awesome pics! Healthy too as its not fully made up of APF!
September 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Your pizza looks wonderful!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
It looks great. I love the addition of olives and peppers.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Anu akka! you put the pizzz up =)…Looks as delicious as it tasted…..Amazing pics.. Thank you for putting it up…Now i can make the pizza during my hols and will try diff toppings as u told me.
Lots of love!
Vedika
September 29th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Pizza is my all time fav, looks soo yummy!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I honestly did not know that it was so easy to prepare the dough, almost like our dear ol’ roti. The pizza in the pic looks awesomely yummy! Could you pls pass on the recipe for baking it in the oven. I know i can find plenty of it on the internet but yours is bound to be perfect!
September 29th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Thank you everybody.
Preethi: Your comments are always much appreciated and prove to be a great feedback. Its nice to know that someone out there cooks out of your recipes. I have made additional notes in the recipe itself. Hope it satisfies your curiosity.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Mom and I went to Toscano on Daughter’s Day and only ate pizza. We were so stuffed, the pizza’s there were authentic wood-fired ones, so, so good.
We’ve always wanted to make pizza at home, but kept forgetting! I’ve made it before in school and loved it. Going to try it out one of these days; your recipe for sure, because if something goes wrong, I’ll have my solution a ring away
Right now, got a quiche in the oven!
p.s: Honestly, baking is my least favourite mode of cooking, but cakes, brownies and a hungry brother give me no other choice!
September 29th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
ChronicPink: I’m a big fan of wood-fired pizzas too. Nothing can replicate the smoky flavours of an wood fired oven. But making making your pizza at home has its own charms. If you decide to give it a try, I’m sure you will be a convert.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Wow, this looks so inviting. yum!
for this year…
I only look at the pics these days. Recipes and ingredients seem of no use or interest to me
Cant wait to make this for this person called ‘Mihir’.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Anu,
The pizza looks fantastic. I can tell that the crust turned out real crisp. Did you use a pizza stone?
September 30th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Anu,
as usual,ur pizza looks great. Seeing your pizzas I remembered the times I used to make pizzas in the estates. Unfortunately I have misplaced the recipie of the pizza because of all the shifting from one place to another. However, I dont have to worry now because here again my cute little niece who has grown into a wonderful mother has come out with an even better recipie.
Well done!Must really try it out.
September 30th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Shwetha: I used a simple baking tray.
Rekha aunty: I really miss the gorgeous food you made in the estates and also my visits to your place.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:14 am
Such a great looking pizza! Thanks for sharing:)
October 1st, 2009 at 9:42 am
wow!so colorful!looks yum!!i always order for extra cheese
October 1st, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I agree, nothing beats homemade pizza. Yours looks wonderful. I feel inspired to make some this weekend!!!
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:01 am
Anu, this looks super delicious. Really miss good food here. Not for lack of it, but for lack of time!
October 5th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I completely agree- I make my own dough too. Why not? It’s so easy and so much better! Your pictures are beautiful!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Hey!!! You posted the recipe
Thank you so very much. Will try it at home this week. And yes, I try almost everything that you post up here 
I still make that pudina veg biryani i learnt from you in Mumbai, it comes out awesome each and every time..
November 18th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I like it, it looks so delicious ..
December 20th, 2009 at 6:39 am
I tried it and it was a super hit at dinner time the first time. So, a little confident me
tried a few things the second time… wanted to share them here… 1. i do not have a pizzapan so i let the dough rise in a round handi foil and baked them as instructed and it was perfect. Also i brushed on some olive oil on top of the dough before i threw it in the oven … the result - a slightly browned crispy pizza top that we all loved…. Thnks Anu for making me a better cook! 
March 1st, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Yum!! My family had a great dinner yesterday thanks to you - homemade pizza and chocolate custard! and there are so many more recipes to try