How to Fix Bland Pizza Dough

Pizza dough is often very plain and simple, and can be bland.

Pizza is a mainstay of many fast food restaurants or classy Italian kitchens. However, when many people try to replicate the fluffy delicious crust they experienced from a store-bought pizza, they are quite disappointed. Often, homemade pizza crusts lack flavor and texture. But there are several easy fixes that can be applied to bland pizza crusts to make them more memorable. With a flavorful crust offsetting a variety of toppings, homemade pizza can become both filling and delicious.

Things You'll Need

• Pizza crust
• 2 tbsp. cornmeal
• Baking tray
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• Basting brush
• 1 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped finely
• 1 tbsp. fresh tarragon, chopped finely
• 1/2 tbsp. fresh sage leaves, chopped finely
• Small bowl
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the oven rack in the middle slots.

2. Sprinkle the baking tray with an even layer of cornmeal. Place the pizza crust on the tray, with the top facing upward.

3. Drizzle the olive oil over the entire top of the pizza crust. Spread it evenly using the basting brush.

4. Mix the oregano, tarragon and sage in the small bowl. Sprinkle it evenly over the top of the crust.

5. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the top of the crust, followed by the pepper and Parmesan.

6. Insert the pizza crust in to the oven and bake for five minutes to allow the olive oil to absorb and the herbs to distribute their flavor.

7. Remove the crust from the oven and proceed with adding the toppings.

Tips & Warnings

• Other herbs or seasonings can be used to give flavor to the crust.

• If the crust is still in the dough stage, mix the ingredients directly in to the dough before baking.

• Grilling the pizza on a barbecue also adds flavor.

References

• Red Sky Grilling: Pizza Dough Tip
• Correll Concepts: Pizza Dough and Pizza Crust Troubleshooting