This recipe takes a little bit of advanced planning because the dough needs an hour to rise, but the results are well worth it! You can top your pizza with whatever you wish. The possibilities are almost endless, but we have offered a few suggestions.
Preparation Notes
Cooking time also includes dough rising time. A 225g packet of cheese will be enough for 2 x 30cm pizzas.
Ingredients
For the dough
- 450g strong plain flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 sachets fast-acting yeast
- 2 tbsp olive oil plus a bit extra for oiling the baking sheet
- 300ml warm water
FOr The tomato sauce
- ½ tbsp vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- A good pinch mixed herbs
Topping suggestions
- Peppers (red, green or yellow), diced
- Mushrooms, sliced
- Tinned corn, drained
- Spinach and⁄or basil, coarsely chopped
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Black olives, sliced
- Vegetarian feta cheese, crumbled
- Vegetarian or vegan sausage, cooked and sliced
- 225g vegetarian or vegan cheese (preferably mozzarella for pizza), grated
Method
- To make the the dough: Sift the flour and salt into one of the large mixing bowls, and make a hole in the centre.
- Pour the yeast, oil and warm water into the centre of the hole.
- Gradually mix in the flour to make a soft dough.
- Turn out the dough on to a lightly floured surface and knead well until it is smooth, pliable and elastic. This will only take a few minutes. (Remember to remove any rings before kneading the dough).
- Place the ball of dough into the other large bowl, cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place for 1 hour, until well-risen and doubled in size. (This is a good time to make your tomato base and prepare any toppings).
- To make the tomato sauce: Heat the oil in the frying pan over medium heat, and gently fry the onion for 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped tinned tomatoes, vinegar, and herbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Purée the sauce in a blender or with a hand blender. Set to one side.
- Putting it all together takes three stages:
- Stage 1: After the dough has had an hour to rise, preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7.
- Turn out the dough on to a lightly floured surface, punch it down and divide into four pieces.
- Stage 2: Knead each piece lightly and roll out until it is about 30cm in diameter.
- Oil the metal baking sheet and place one of the rounds of dough on it.
- Top the dough with the tomato sauce and any other toppings of your choice.
- Stage 3: Bake in the preheated oven until the base of the pizza is crisp and golden brown, around 10 minutes.
- Remove to a large chopping board and cut into slices using a pizza cutter or sharp knife.
- Repeat with the other rounds of dough.
