Ingredients for Dough

• 2 packages (=2 Tablespoons) Active Dry Yeast
• 2 cups lukewarm water (105-115 degrees)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups all-purpose flour

Proof 2 tablespoons (=2 packages) yeast by adding it to 1/4 cup lukewarm water and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. The yeast will start to bubble and foam and the mixture will grow from 1/4 cup to over 1 cup. Be careful not to use water that is too hot or too cold. It should be just warm to the touch (about 105-115 degrees).

The dough can be mixed in a stand mixer or very easily kneaded by hand –no need for a mixer. After all the ingredients are combined, you will end up with a ball about 5-6 inches in diameter. If the dough seems sticky, add some more flour.

Let rise in oven for at least 1 hour until double in size.  It can stay much longer up to several hours. I preheat the oven at the very lowest temperature it goes (that can be anywhere from 135 – 200 degrees depending on the oven). Then turn the oven OFF before placing the dough inside to rise.

After it rises, divide into 4 equal portions.

Carefully stretch each dough ball to fit in a 12 inch pan. This takes a little patience. Start in the middle and keep working to the outside. The dough will collapse back on itself, but keep working it by pressing it towards the edges with your fingers.

Add sauce to each pie and spread from the middle to the edges.

Add cheese and other toppings.

Bake at 500 degrees using the middle and bottom racks. Cook for 7 minutes then switch positions, moving the bottom pizza to the middle and cook 6 minutes more. The crust will start to turn golden and the cheese will just start to get brown in spots.

Try with your favorite toppings. We like black olives!

Pizza

Print Recipe

makes four 12-inch pizzas

• CourseMain Dish

Servings

8 people

Servings 8 people

Pizza Print Recipe makes four 12-inch pizzas CourseMain Dish Servings 8 people Servings 8 people

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 tablespoons Active Dry Yeast or 2 packages
• 2 cups lukewarm water (105-115 degrees)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups flour

Sauce/Cheese

• 28 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1/2 small onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano

Cheese/Toppings

• 12 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese
• Your favorite toppings (pepperoni, olives, peppers, etc.)

Servings: people

Instructions

Dough

1. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix 1/4 cup warm water, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar and 2 tablespoons yeast and let stand for a few minutes until yeast expands into a foamy mixture.
2. Put salt and oil into a big mixing bowl and add 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.
3. Stir in yeast mixture.
4. Add half of the flour, beat/mix until smooth.
5. Gradually stir in remaining flour and knead until thoroughly combined.
6. Let rise in warm place until double in size (1 hour or longer).
7. Divide into 4 portions and shape onto 4 pizza pans.

Sauce

1. Coat pot with olive oil and cook garlic about 1 minute - don't burn.
2. Add onions and cook until soft - again, don't burn. You can add a little water to soften faster without burning.
3. Add spices and tomato sauce. Cook for 5-10 minutes until heated and combined. Alternatively, you can use tomato puree instead of sauce, but you should cook it for 1-2 hours on medium-low heat.
4. Divide sauce among four pizzas and spread from the middle to the edges.

Baking Pizzas

1. Bake in preheated oven at 500 degrees using the middle and bottom rack. Cook for 7 minutes then switch positions, moving the bottom pizza to the middle and cook 6 minutes more. The crust will start to turn golden and the cheese will just start to get brown in spots.

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