Things You'll Need:
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup warm water (between 95° and 115° F.)
- 1 packet dry yeast
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. salt
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Step 1
Mix honey, water and salt. Add the yeast and mix for another five seconds. Add one cup of flour and mix until well blended.
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Step 2
Add olive oil and mix until blended. Add the rest of the flour and continue mixing in your preferred way until dough is well mixed and springy. If in a mixer or food processor, the dough should form a ball that cleans the sides of the bowl. If mixing by hand, dough will be smooth and elastic, and have a satiny feel. If using a bread machine, follow the instructions for your machine.
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Step 3
If consistency is too wet, add flour one tbsp. at a time until it's right. If your dough is too dry, add additional water one tbsp. at a time. You'll get a feel for the right consistency after making it few times. If you've baked bread, you already know what you're going for.
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Step 4
Place dough in a plastic grocery bag or a covered bowl, and allow to rise in a warm (not hot) part of your kitchen. This should take almost an hour.
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Step 5
Punch the dough down in the center to deflate it. Knead briefly to redistribute the yeast, then for a ball and all it to rise for about another hour.
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Step 6
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out and stretch the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick, then top with your preferred toppings. The simplest is a pizza margherita, with red sauce, white mozzarella cheese and green basil leaves. It can get as complicated as you want to make it.
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Step 7
Bake until the crust is light brown, either on baking stone, pizza pan or cookie sheet. This should take about 10 to 12 minutes. Remember pizza will continue to cook for another two to three minutes after being removed from the oven.
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Step 8
Allow to cool briefly, then cut into slices and serve. Don't burn your mouth.
