Pizza remains perhaps one of the most popular Mediterranean dish of all times and, with the variety of dishes available, there’s always room for experimentation and innovation. In other words, there’s no reason to ever get bored. While getting the tantalizing flavors and perfect crust might seem a though job, with a little bit of practice and a willingness to learn you would be surprised how easy it can be.
When it comes to the dough, sticking to the recipe is one of the best ideas, but when it comes to pizza toppings, being creative and adjusting the recipe to your tastes is usually the best way to go. If you wish to make a healthy version, include a variety of fresh vegetables or opt for whole grain flour instead of white flour. Here’s a basic pizza recipe for 4 servings:
Ingredients
Dough
1½ cups plain/all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tablespoons of olive oil
½ cup of water
Topping:
mozzarella
ham
olives
onion
peppers
sausages,mushrooms,cheese etc(adjust as needed)
Preparation
Begin by putting the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl, mix them lightly and make a hole in the center. Put the olive oil and water in the center and begin mixing everything together. Persist until you get a sticky dough and then put the mixture on a flat surface. Make sure the surface is covered by a thin layer of flour before placing the mixture.
Knead the dough for at least 2-3 minutes. Make sure that the dough is firm, yet can be shaped easily using a roller pin. A good indication that the dough is ready is that it doesn’t stick to your hands. Lightly coat the tray you plan on using with oil and after the dough has acquired the desired shape, make sure to transfer it carefully in the tray.
Cover the dough with tomato sauce or special pizza sauce and add the desired toppings, varying quantities based on personal preference. Put the pizza in the oven and let it for about 25 minutes checking once in a while to see if the temperature needs to be adjusted.
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