Why go through the ordeals (if one may say so) of making a pizza at home when piping hot pizza will be on its way home after a few minutes of placing an order over a telephone?
Simply because it is quite easy, gratifying and thrilling to make your own pizza! These are my reasons for making my own. People who make their own stuff will vouch for it. Apart from the looks of appreciation and delight you receive from your folks, which in my humble opinion should be reason enough to make a pizza at home, a pizza made at home from scratch scores on many fronts.
As much as I enjoy a piping hot pizza that arrives within half an hour of me disconnecting the phone, I’m always skeptical if not uncomfortable about the ingredients used. It is definitely not something that I would dare to eat often.
But when I make a pizza at home, I’m in total control of what goes into its making. The organic wheat flour, healthy vegetables and fresh cheese that I use ensure a fret-free bite.
I made my first pizza from the book Great Vegetarian Dishes.I arrived at the recipe given below after testing many yeast-flour combinations.
My cousin’s visit was followed by another visit from her younger sister who happens to be another huge fan of my 6 ½ month old. Raksha spoke about Harivansh and his antics to her younger sister Vedika for an entire day. When Vedika’s study holidays were announced no one could stop her from visiting to see her nephew, in her own words.
Vedika is a huge fan of pizza and I had to make some for her. I used a topping of sliced red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, olives and mozzarella cheese with a sprinkling of some dried oregano and pepper, ingredients that were available on hand. Vedika enjoyed every bite of her pizza, as much as I enjoyed making it for her.
Simple Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
This is a versatile pizza dough and you can use any combination of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, etc. The crust is crisp and on the thinner side. For the Pizza pictured above I have used a combination of sliced red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, olives and mozzarella cheese with a sprinkling of some dried oregano and pepper. You can also make mini pizzas out of this dough and serve them as starters.
Ingredients:
210 gm (1 ½ cups) plain flour
Or
¾ cup whole wheat flour and ¾ cup plain flour
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
125 ml(1/2 cup) lukewarm water
¾ tsp sugar
1 ¼ tsp active dried yeast
Method:
In a bowl, add the sugar, yeast and water and allow to stand for 10 minutes or until frothy.
Sift the flour (or flours if using a combination of whole wheat flour and plain flour) and the salt in a large bowl, make a well in the centre, add the yeast mixture and the oil and mix into a firm dough. Knead briefly until the dough is smooth and elastic, about a minute or two. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and leave in a warm place for an hour or two hours, until it is double in size.
Punch the dough until it is reduced in size, knead into a small ball. Preheat your oven at its maximum temperature, about 250 degree centigrade(475 degree F or gas mark 9) and on a lightly floured surface, roll into an approximately 10†base.
Carefully transfer the rolled pizza dough to a lightly oiled/greased baking sheet or pizza stone. Spread with a tomato sauce if desired and sprinkle the toppings of your choice over the pizza, leaving a 1/4" border around the edges. Toss in some good cheese for added measure. 🙂
Bake it for about 10 minutes, until the edges are nicely browned and the pizza looks irresistible.
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Awesome pics! Healthy too as its not fully made up of APF!
Your pizza looks wonderful!
It looks great. I love the addition of olives and peppers.
Anu akka! you put the pizzz up =)…Looks as delicious as it tasted…..Amazing pics.. Thank you for putting it up…Now i can make the pizza during my hols and will try diff toppings as u told me.
Lots of love!
Vedika
Pizza is my all time fav, looks soo yummy!
I honestly did not know that it was so easy to prepare the dough, almost like our dear ol' roti. The pizza in the pic looks awesomely yummy! Could you pls pass on the recipe for baking it in the oven. I know i can find plenty of it on the internet but yours is bound to be perfect! 🙂
Thank you everybody.
Preethi: Your comments are always much appreciated and prove to be a great feedback. Its nice to know that someone out there cooks out of your recipes. I have made additional notes in the recipe itself. Hope it satisfies your curiosity. 🙂
Mom and I went to Toscano on Daughter's Day and only ate pizza. We were so stuffed, the pizza's there were authentic wood-fired ones, so, so good.
We've always wanted to make pizza at home, but kept forgetting! I've made it before in school and loved it. Going to try it out one of these days; your recipe for sure, because if something goes wrong, I'll have my solution a ring away 🙂
Right now, got a quiche in the oven!
p.s: Honestly, baking is my least favourite mode of cooking, but cakes, brownies and a hungry brother give me no other choice!
ChronicPink: I'm a big fan of wood-fired pizzas too. Nothing can replicate the smoky flavours of an wood fired oven. But making making your pizza at home has its own charms. If you decide to give it a try, I'm sure you will be a convert.
Wow, this looks so inviting. yum!
I only look at the pics these days. Recipes and ingredients seem of no use or interest to me 😛 for this year…
Cant wait to make this for this person called 'Mihir'.
Anu,
The pizza looks fantastic. I can tell that the crust turned out real crisp. Did you use a pizza stone?
Anu,
as usual,ur pizza looks great. Seeing your pizzas I remembered the times I used to make pizzas in the estates. Unfortunately I have misplaced the recipie of the pizza because of all the shifting from one place to another. However, I dont have to worry now because here again my cute little niece who has grown into a wonderful mother has come out with an even better recipie.
Well done!Must really try it out.
Shwetha: I used a simple baking tray.
Rekha aunty: I really miss the gorgeous food you made in the estates and also my visits to your place.
Such a great looking pizza! Thanks for sharing:)
wow!so colorful!looks yum!!i always order for extra cheese
I agree, nothing beats homemade pizza. Yours looks wonderful. I feel inspired to make some this weekend!!!
Anu, this looks super delicious. Really miss good food here. Not for lack of it, but for lack of time!
I completely agree- I make my own dough too. Why not? It's so easy and so much better! Your pictures are beautiful!
Hey!!! You posted the recipe 🙂 Thank you so very much. Will try it at home this week. And yes, I try almost everything that you post up here 🙂 I still make that pudina veg biryani i learnt from you in Mumbai, it comes out awesome each and every time..
I like it, it looks so delicious ..
I tried it and it was a super hit at dinner time the first time. So, a little confident me 😛 tried a few things the second time… wanted to share them here… 1. i do not have a pizzapan so i let the dough rise in a round handi foil and baked them as instructed and it was perfect. Also i brushed on some olive oil on top of the dough before i threw it in the oven … the result – a slightly browned crispy pizza top that we all loved…. Thnks Anu for making me a better cook! 🙂
Yum!! My family had a great dinner yesterday thanks to you – homemade pizza and chocolate custard! and there are so many more recipes to try 🙂
I've used this recipe for making homemade pizza for my girlfriend and I. It always comes out delicious. We do find, however, that the crust often turns out a bit dense and sometimes tastes a little stale. Does anyone have any tips to achieve a more airy, fresher tasting dough. Perhaps add more yeast? Or, maybe I'm over kneading the dough? I'm just not sure….
Zach: Try using only all purpose flour. If you mix in whole wheat flour, you are bound to get a denser crust.
Anu, ur website is a boon to me. i've been searching for a good vegetarian cooking blog. you have done wonders!
one doubt, can i used the same methods of baking, if its an electric oven? because thats what i have
Joe: 🙂 I'm happy that you feel this way about divinetaste. What exactly do you mean by an electric oven? The baking methods remain more or less the same for all ovens except a microwave oven.
Hi..
Ur recipe for pizza base sounds good. Do let me know how many pizza bases can i make with the measurements that uve given. Presume each base is of the size that u've shown.
Secondly, would it be possible for you to give a good recipe of Pizza Sauce. I think home-made pizza sauce shud do real wonders. Looking forth to hearing from u.
add in ginger garlic paste and pepper powder and chilly flake bought from the thailand shop for $1 gratted mozzerall cheese and cheese powder and tuna one can of cream of mushrom soup and chopped capsicum and onion paste and salr
Hi
Stumbled on your site when surfing for eggless cooking and to tell the truth I was hooked after reading some recipes. They're all wonderful. Tks.
I would like to comment on this pizza recipe. I eat a lot of pizzas, easy, satisfying and quick and I always make them myself. I found out in my recipes that if you roll them on semolina they come out better.
Keep up the good work.
PS I also like the short 'stories' accompanying each recipe.
Joe: Thank you for your inputs. Very sweet of you to leave a few words here.
Tried your pizza recipe yesterday and it was simply super!! It tasted just like the pizzas we had when we were living in France. My husband and his friends have now decided that they will no more go out to restaurants for pizzas 🙂
Ash: That's indeed a great compliment from your husband and his friends! I'm glad to be of help.
Hi Anushruti,
I just happened to come by your blog in search of a vegetarian strawberry cheesecake recipe. Great collection of recipes you have here!!
Just a couple of queries… I do try to bake breads occasionally (with little success though).. I am worried about the yeast I use. What brand do you use? Blue Bird or something else? I live in Mumbai.
It would be great if you could reply!
Smita
Smita: I generally use instant yeast which I buy from Arife but I hear they don't stock it now. I'm yet to test recipes with blue bird yeast. Will update further when I find the right yeast to work with.
I just made pizza for the first time using this recipe and it was delicious!
Thank you so much for your recipes, they always turn out amazing!I also love your basic eggless cake recipe 🙂
Happy New Year!
Hi
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast.If so what is the quantity.kindly reply.
Hi Anu u are truely a devine one,i just love each and every one of ur recipes.yesterday i made a pizza from a dough i get from vah chef it was a ferfect one i sprinkle the bottom of the pan with corn flour(not fine like flour but a bit course like semolina it gives the crust a different taste.i will surely try this one the next time i bake.my husband love the devine taste from the recipies u have as we are vegetarians.please add more recipies when u get time like dosa,samosa,jelibi,rasgula,gulab jamoon,vada,peda and there are so much more but i know it takes time .i love to try it ur way.thanks
simone: Sure! Will keep your requests in mind. Hope you will be patient as there is a long list I need to attend to and my day is filled with so many other tasks!
Hi Anu, i tried your pizza dough recipe and it was great! everyone at home assumed i bought the dough and were truly surprised that i had made it from scratch. keep up your wonderful magical ways around the kitchen!
Its jst amazing….i really loved it….:)
Dear Anu,
I am fan of your blog, being a jain its wonderful to know that we can cook all cuisines in jain style. i wanat to try pizza also but i dont have electric oven.
Can you tell me if this can be prepared in gas oven too.
[…] have to first thank Anushruti of Divine Taste for sharing her simple recipe for making pizza dough. The simple ingredients and simple steps gave […]
Hi Anu,
Thanks for this wonderful,wonderful recipe for the pizza dough. I'm so glad I found your website.
I tried the pizza and it was turned out just perfect. I've blogged about it here.
http://mimismommy.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/dail-m-for-mom-please-make-pizza/
Thanks again.
Howdy! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great information
you’ve gotten right here on this post. I might be coming back
to your weblog for more soon.
Thanks to you ive stopped eating pizza outside because i can make my own! Tried, tested & loved it!
Puva: Nice to hear that!
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dear anu, my micro oven only temp max settings till 200°c. So can I preheat and bake at dat temp. If so for how many minutes sud I bake?
rakshitha: I don't use a microwave oven, sorry I can't help!
Hello Anushruti, the baking should be done in bottom rack or centre rack? And the heating should be both or bottom only? This is a very simple recipe, I want to try 🙂 .. Thank u.
Greetings! I've been following your website for a long time now and finally
got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Tx!
Just wanted to mention keep up the good work!
Amy- Thank you so much!
Hi Anushruti,
Tried this recipe. Came out amazing. Thanks for the same. Just a little query. The pizza was soggy in the small portion at center while rest of it was perfect. Would u know why?
Shikha- If you overload the pizza with many toppings then it tends to go soggy. Use your toppings sparingly.
Thanks Anushruti.You are absolutely right. That is the mistake I made. Thanks once again.
Dear Anu.Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
If so what is the quantity for this recipe? Thanks
Jinny- Yes you can use instant yeast. You can use 1 tsp instant yeast.
Hi Anushruti
I follow your posts quite regularly. I have tried many recipes from these and they have come out quite well.
I am tried this pizza recipe and i am facing some trouble. Need your help.
problem : pizza base did not fluff and didnot cook…it cooked only 1 inch inside from the sides and the rest was pretty much uncooked from the inside.
Few observations
1. when i dissolved dry yeast into warm water…it didnot get frothy even after 10 min of standing. the only yeast i got here was Solar brand.
2. My dough did NOT double in size even After kneading the dough and keeping it warm for 5 hrs. (i am in Delhi NCR…so i had left the dough at room temperature…as ambient temperatures are very high these days)
3. I have a convection microwave oven with max temp as 200 deg centigrade. So I preheated the oven to this and tried cooking the pizza baking it for 25 mins. the edges of the base did get golden brown but every part of the base underneath the toppings was uncooked.
Your tips would help in overcoming these problems.
I am going to give it a second try in a few days. Planning to cook the plain base bread first and then cover it with toppings and toss it in for a few mins just for cheese to melt and toppings to cook.
Thanks.
MJ: If the yeast does not froth, your dough will not prove, fluff or cook. Your first step should be to find yeast that froths.
Hi can i use airfryer to cook this base?
You can follow the instructions given in your manual!
Pizza is my favorite thing to cook with the kids. It is one food that their “help†can actually be help. You can’t really screw up putting toppings on, and they love to customize their own little pizzas.
Hi Anushruti,
I have tried many of your recipes and they all have come out beautifully ! I have a question – I use Morphy Richards OTG and should I bake this pizza in the lower rack or middle rack ? Also for all cakes should I bake in the lower rack or middle rack ? Thanks !
Thanks Aparna. All recipes to be baked in the middle rack as the heat distribution is even.
You are right Rose!
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I’m a teenager who is absolutly in love with cooking, and I saw this on your youtube channel one day and I decided to make it for my parents. I really like the info you share, it’s really helpful. The reaction of my parents when they tasted the spagetti squash was so amazing. thank you for sharing this kind of info with all of us.
Thanks for sharing.