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The Perfect Pizza Recipe

The Perfect Homemade Pizza

A proven homemade pizza recipe using tipo 00 flour and semolina for a light, crispy base with genuine chew. Includes dough technique, spicy tomato sauce and topping ideas including the ultimate salami and chilli combination.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Proving Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4 pizzas
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g Tipo 00 Flour or strong white bread flour
  • 100 g fine semolina flour
  • 1 sachet fast action dried yeast
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 300 ml warm water

Method
 

  1. Mix the tipo 00 flour, semolina and salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre.
  2. Mix the warm water with the yeast and honey until dissolved. Pour half into the well in the flour.
  3. Start mixing the flour from the edges of the well into the liquid. Gradually add the remaining water as you mix until all the flour is incorporated and a rough dough forms. Add a little extra flour if too sticky or a splash of water if it's crumbling.
  4. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic and springs back when poked. This is the most important step — don't skimp on the kneading time.
  5. Shape into a ball, dust lightly with flour, cover with a clean tea towel or cling film and leave somewhere warm for approximately 1 hour until doubled in size.
  6. While the dough proves, make your spicy pizza sauce.
  7. Preheat your oven to its absolute maximum temperature — 250°C or higher — with a pizza stone or heavy baking tray inside. Allow 30-45 minutes for the stone to get properly hot.
  8. Once the dough has doubled, knock back with a quick 2-minute knead, then divide into 4 equal pieces.
  9. Roll each piece out on a lightly floured surface to approximately 10 inches diameter, as thin as you can get it without tearing.
  10. Transfer each base to a sheet of baking parchment. Add sauce, mozzarella and toppings.
  11. Slide the pizza on its parchment onto the hot stone or tray and bake for 7-10 minutes until the crust is golden and blistered and the cheese is bubbling and starting to colour.

Notes

  • Tipo 00 flour gives the best results. It is finer milled than strong bread flour, it produces a lighter and more authentic base. Available from most Italian delis, larger supermarkets and online.
  • The semolina adds crunch to the base and prevents sticking. Do not leave it out
  • The honey feeds the yeast and adds a very slight sweetness to the dough that balances the acidity of the tomato sauce
  • Cold prove option: make the dough the night before, shape into a ball, cover and refrigerate overnight. The long slow prove improves flavour significantly. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before shaping
  • The dough freezes well after rolling out. Stack between sheets of baking parchment, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen directly on a hot stone