Name: Simple pizza base
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 6 h 30 min
Yield: Makes 2 large or 4 individual pizzas
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 600g strong white bread flour, plus plenty for rolling; ½ tsp dried yeast; 2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for drizzling; semolina for dusting

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Simple pizza base

Simple pizza base

Lulu Grimes

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Makes 2 large or 4 individual pizzas

Easy

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 12 mins - 18 mins

Plus 6-8 hours proving

A star rating of 3 out of 5.37 ratingsRate

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Create your own pizza base and top it with your favourite ingredients. This wet dough mix needs the proving time to work, so leave it overnight in a cool place if you can

Freezable (Freeze dough only)

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

600g strong white bread

flour, plus plenty for rolling
½ tsp dried yeast
2 tbsp olive oil

plus extra for drizzling
semolina

for dusting

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Nutrition: per pizza base

kcal1192
fat16g
saturates2g
carbs241g
sugars4g
fibre10g
protein37g
salt2.52g

Method

step 1

Put the flour, yeast and 1 tsp salt into a large bowl. Stir in 500ml of slightly warm water and the oil. You should end up with a wettish dough that is rough and lumpy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, cover with a tea towel and if your kitchen is cool keep it out, but if it’s warm put it in the bottom of the fridge. Leave dough to rise for at least 6 hrs or until doubled in size.
step 2

When ready to cook, bring the dough to room temperature. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Dust 2-4 baking sheets with semolina. Dust the work surface with flour, then divide the dough into 2 or 4 pieces. Knead each piece on the floured surface, incorporating enough flour to stop the dough being sticky.
step 3

Roll each piece into a pizza shape and lift onto baking sheets. Leave to rise for 10 mins while you sort toppings (see ideas, below). Top the bases with your chosen ingredients, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and bake following the timings for each topping (18 mins for a large pizza or 12 mins for an individual) or until the crust is crisp and the topping is bubbling.

RECIPE TIPS

ARTICHOKE, OLIVE & CAPER

Roll out your dough as directed, then spread over 4 tbsp ready-made tomato pizza or pasta sauce. Scatter over 8 halved cherry tomatoes, 4 quartered artichoke hearts from a jar, 8 halved, pitted green olives and 2 tbsp drained, rinsed capers. Tear a 125g ball of mozzarella over the top and bake for 18 mins. Finish with a handful of shaved Parmesan and some torn basil leaves.

RICOTTA, PROSCIUTTO & PESTO

Soak ½ sliced onion in cold water for 5 mins, then drain and mix with 6 tbsp ricotta and some salt and pepper. Spread this onto your pizza base, then dot on 2 tbsp pesto. Arrange 6 prosciutto slices on top and bake for 18 mins. Finish with 2 large handfuls of rocket, some freshly milled black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

SPINACH, BLUE CHEESE & WALNUT

Spread 6 tbsp ready-made tomato pasta or pizza sauce over the pizza base, then sprinkle with 6 tbsp grated Parmesan. Scatter over 100g baby spinach leaves and crumble on 75g blue cheese and 60g walnut pieces. Bake for 12 mins.

WILD MUSHROOM & MASCARPONE

Soak large handful dried wild mushrooms in boiling water. Meanwhile, mix 6 tbsp mascarpone with a crushed garlic clove. Season well. Heat 2 tsp olive oil and fry 6 sliced cap mushrooms until softening, then add the drained soaked mushrooms and 1 tsp thyme leaves. Spread the mascarpone mix on the pizza base and top with mushrooms. Bake for 12-18 mins, then sprinkle with 4 tbsp grated Parmesan. Return to the oven for 1 min and finish with extra thyme leaves.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, March 2011

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.37 ratings

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