There are so many recipes out there for pizza dough but each time, even after making changes to try to make it better, it was never quite right. With this recipe though, I think I can finally put my mind at rest and say, “this dough recipe is perfect for our family!”.

Serves about 4 people (2 people if you are famished 😊)

Ingredients

For the dough

450g all-purpose flour

270g water

9g salt

8g olive oil

1.5g instant yeast (I find it easier to use the type that doesn’t need to be dissolved in water)

2 small teaspoons sugar

For the dressing

1 small jar or carton of tomato sauce (passata or chopped tomatoes)

3 mozzarelle (150g each), chopped and excess liquid squeezed out

Few chestnut mushrooms, peeled and sliced (do not rinse them)

Any charcuterie of your choice (here I used German salami and bresaola)

Few pitted black olives, cut in half

Few basil leaves

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Method

If you prefer to knead the pizza dough yourself, you will need some muscles. Otherwise, I strongly advise you to invest in a stand mixer (it doesn’t have to be an expensive one to do the job).

In the mixer bowl, add flour, yeast, sugar, salt and olive oil.

Switch on the mixer at low speed and slowly add the water.

After 10 minutes, the dough is ready to be removed from the bowl.

Form a ball, drizzle on it a little olive oil and put it in a container.

Cover the container with a cloth and let the dough rest for at least a couple of hours (4 hours even better) in a warm place.

When the dough is ready, pre-heat the oven at 200°, take the dough and split it in two.

Place each dough in a non-stick medium size baking tray where you previously added some olive oil.

With your fingers, slowly start stretching it, paying attention not to create uneven sides  or tearing it.

Flatten the dough until you have covered the tray fully and start dressing it with your favourite toppings.

I made 1 pizza with chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella and basil.

The second with chopped tomatoes, pesto, mozzarella and bresaola.

The third one with chopped tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

And the fourth one with chopped tomatoes, mozzarella, German salami and basil.

Drizzle all over some more olive oil and add salt.

Now you have 2 options for cooking the pizza:

If you like your mozzarella well cooked like in the first picture below, add all ingredients at the same time, put it in the oven and cook it for about 8/10 minutes at 200° or until the crust is golden brown.

If you prefer to see the mozzarella like in the third picture below, add the tomato sauce on the dough and put it in the oven. When the pizza is almost cooked (same time and temperature as above), take it out, add the rest of the ingredients and put it back in the oven for a couple more minutes.