Patrick's Pizza Dough

It took a while, but I finally tweaked this recipe to be everything you want from a pizza crust: just the right amount of crispiness. Yet every kitchen and cook is different. You’ll find that you may need to add more flour or oil. Go with your gut…it will be worth it. -- Patrick P., Brooklyn, NY

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup lukewarm water
  • 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast, (one ¼-ounce packet)
  • 1 ½ tsp honey
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (can use bread flour, or combo), plus more for dusting
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder, if desired
  • 2 ½ Tbsp olive oil, plus more for bowl and drizzling
  • cornmeal for dusting pan or peel.

DIRECTIONS

  • Mix ½ cup water, active dry yeast and honey in a small bowl until dissolved. Let sit about 5-10 minutes until top looks foamy.
  • Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large bowl and brush to coat sides.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough attachment, add the flour, salt and 2 Tbsp olive oil. Mix to combine. Add the activated yeast to the dry ingredients. Mix until dough forms into a sticky ball and is pulling away from sides of bowl.
  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form the mass into a ball.
  • Transfer dough ball into oiled bowl and gently roll to coat surface in oil. Cover bowl tightly and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Meanwhile preheat you oven to 450° F. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the top section of the oven. If not, prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper and prepare your pizza toppings.
  • Remove cover and deflate dough with hands. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead dough until soft and elastic.
  • Use a rolling pin or hands to flatten ball into a circle shape, about 12-14 inches. It doesn’t need to be perfectly-shaped, it will taste great regardless. Gently use your fingers to press dough about 1-inch in from edges to form a crust.
  • If using a pizza peel, sprinkle some cornmeal on the peel and place formed dough atop close to edge. If using a pan, place dough on prepared baking sheet.
  • Drizzle oil over pizza and brush crust. Add desired toppings. Slide pizza onto baking stone or place pan in oven and cook for about 10 minutes, or until crust becomes golden brown.