Happy Pi Day! Today, I'm sharing a recipe for pizza pie dough. Pizza seems to be a universally loved food. Kids love pizza. Adults love pizza. Americans, Italians, Chicagoans, and New York's all love pizza. I love pizza!
I recently learned how to make pizza dough. I make it often for my family. I love this yeast-based dough recipe. The pizza dough does require some time to proof, which makes it a great make-ahead dinner.
Pizza is a great vehicle to use leftovers. I find that I tend to have leftover meat, like chicken, and vegetables in my refrigerator at the end of the week. So, I use pizza dough to turn my leftovers into a delicious, "new" meal. Here's the recipe.
Ingredients:
6 ounces (3/4 cup) warm water
1 packet yeast
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 cup all purpose flour (plus more for rolling out the dough)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil (plus 1 teaspoon for the bowl).
Equipment:
Large glass bowl
Large mixing bowl
Spatula
Cling wrap
Grill pan or cast iron skillet
Candy thermometer (optional)
Instructions:
Mix sugar, water, and yeast. RDtip: Make sure to use warm water with a temperature between 110-120*F. The warm water helps activate the yeast. Hot water can kill the yeast, which will inhibit the leavening of the pizza dough.
In a large mixing bowl, add salt, flour, and olive oil. When yeast mixture is bubbly, add to the flour mixture. Mix until ingredients until combined. Pour dough onto a floured surface. Kneed the dough for 3-4 minutes until it is elastic and smooth.
Place the dough in a large, glass mixing bowl that has been coated with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Cover the bowl with cling wrap or a clean towel. Place the dough in a warm, draft-free environment for 1 hour to proof.
The dough should double in size. RDtip: I use my oven as a draft-free proofing environment. Note: Do not turn the oven on while dough is proofing.
Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out your dough on a floured surface. Grill your dough in a grill pan on medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side.
Top pizza dough with your favorite toppings to create your own pizza. Here are a few of my favorites pizzas to make.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
BBQ sauce
Cooked chicken
Red onion
Mushrooms
Mozzarella cheese
Mediterreanean Pizza
Pesto
Mozzarella cheese
Mushrooms onion
Olives
Banana peppers
Tomato Herb Pizza
Goat cheese
Basil
Chives
Heirloom tomatoes
Salt and pepper
Balsamic vinegar reduction
To make these pizzas into a more balance meal, add a side salad like a Greek Salad or Caesar salad.
These recipes turn your leftovers into a great, new meal. Using leftovers to make "new" meals is a great way to save money and no one will guess that this was a meal made of leftovers. So, try making pizza dough and reveal in the praise of your loved ones.
I hope you enjoy these recipes. Feel free to make pizza dough with your kids. It's a really fun hands-on meal for kids.
You can invite your friends over and turn any night into a pizza night. Have fun! If you make any of these recipes, tag me @RDtipoftheday. I love seeing your creations.
For more tips, encouragement, and recipes for a healthy lifestyle, you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
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