Pizza Crust 101 - An Introduction to Pizza Dough

A lot of people think making homemade pizza is hard.time for the dough to rise. This usually takes 45
They think the only way to get a good pizza is tominutes to an hour.
order it from a restaurant. In fact, pizza is very easy toWhen the dough is done, roll it out. You can add herbs,
make, and you can be as creative as you like. Atseasonings, even a little cheese if you want to add
home, you are not limited to what is on the menu, youextra flavors. Spread a nice sauce on top, and sprinkle
can try new combinations that may end up being yourwith the toppings of your choice to make your own
new favorite.perfect pizza.
The crust is the part that most people are afraid of.Baking can take place in your oven or on the grill. Pizza
The mere thought of making homemade dough willpans are easy to find, or you may choose to use a
make people reach for either the freezer or thepizza stone. A stone will give you a wonderful, crispy
telephone. If they would just give it a try, most peoplecrust. Be sure to follow the instructions for using the
would find that pizza dough can be pretty simple tostone. If you find that pizza making is something you
make. If you have a bread machine to use, all youtruly enjoy, you may want to buy your own pizza peel.
need to do is add the ingredients and turn it on.This is the large, flat wooden paddle that is used to
A quick search online will show you recipes for anyremove a pizza from the oven. It works really well if
type of pizza crust you may desire. If you have wheatyou are baking on a stone. Some people have special
issues, try a gluten free crust. If you are on a diet,pizza ovens built into their kitchens or even in their
there are low fat pizza crusts. If you prefer wholeback yards.
grain, try a whole wheat pizza crust.Even if you have never made pizza before, you will be
If you have never made pizza crust before, you mayamazed at how tasty your first pizza can be. Follow
want to start with an easy pizza dough recipe. Youthe crust recipe, and then roll out the dough as flat as
can even make crust without yeast if you want. Thepossible. Shape is not important. Have fun with it!
important thing to remember is that crust really is notSpread the sauce and sprinkle your favorite toppings
that hard.on. If you add more than one kind of cheese, you will
A basic pizza crust is pretty easy. You need flour, oil, abe amazed at the complex flavors you can get.
little sugar, a little salt and some yeast. You can mixSprinkle some herbs and garlic on before baking. Cook
and knead the dough yourself or plop it in your breadyour pizza for approximately 20 minutes, and you are
machine and kick back while the machine does theready to sit down to eat. You will wonder what you
work. If you are doing it yourself, you will need to allowever saw in frozen pizza.