Sicilian Pizza Dough

Lisa Pizza's Note:

I saw Nick Stellino make this dough and use it to make four calzones. It will also make two pizzas. I've done both and they turn out wonderfully! My key to a great pizza is to slice everything VERY thin and to not pile it on too thick. Our usual pizza is feta, garlic, freshly grated parm, fresh spinach, toasted pine nuts, tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella, a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper. I highly recommend it!

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 2.0 pizza p ...

• 1 1/2 cups water (105 F to 115 F)
• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups flour (approx)

Directions:

1. Coat a large bowl with teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.
2. Stir first three ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes, until nice and foamy.
3. Place three cups of flour in large bowl and mix in salt.
4. Place one cup of flour on work surface.
5. Mix pour olive oil into yeast mixture and then pour yeast mixture into bowl with flour.
6. Stir until as combined as possible.
7. Turn out onto floured surface.
8. With well floured hands, knead dough to work in the cup of flour on the board.
9. Continue kneading until nice, smooth dough-ball is formed.
10. Place in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
11. Dough should double (at least).
12. Use half the dough to form a pizza crust, crimp the edges, brush edges with olive oil and top as desired.
13. Bake on pizza stone or ceramic tile at 425 F for approx 15 minutes.

Reviews

[Lisa Pizza]

This also makes a wonderful 'deep dish' pizza crust as pictured above. The recipe will make one deep dish crust. Brush rimmed baking sheet with olive oil, place dough into pan and shape and dimple with finger tips. Brush top with olive oil and pre-bake at 425 F for 7 minutes - then add toppings and bake for another 10-15 minutes.

[Myrna in London]

This recipe makes an extraordinarily good crust, unlike ANY of the commercial ones I have ever tasted. It was fresh and flavourful. For the first time ever I saw the crust as a positive contributing factor to the ultimate taste of a pizza rather than just something to support all my favourite toppings. It begs the question, why haven’t I done this before? I think my perception was that it would be time-consuming and difficult may be the ultimate answer. It was neither. While the dough did it’s rising thing, I merrily sliced and diced my favourite fixings. When it came to assembly I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn’t have to send the dough artfully spinning off into space to achieve a successful crust. It was great fun, thank you Lisa. (prepared for the COOKOUT Cookathon July 1st – July 4th 2002

[Marie]

I have been using this pizza dough recipe for many months and it always turns out perfect - very tender and crispy. After spreading dough out onto baking sheet, I brush it with a little olive oil and let it rise for about 15 minutes more. This makes for a light pizza dough. Also, I bake it at 450 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. Great recipe!