SAME-DAY PIZZA DOUGH
Makes one large or two small pizzas
INGREDIENTS
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2/3 cup warm water (105 to 115°F.)
1 and 2/3 cups unbleached, all-purpose or bread flour
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more to coat dough
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a liquid measuring cup, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
2a. FOR FOOD PROCESSOR: Insert dough or metal chopping blade in work bowl and add flour, olive oil and salt. With the machine running, pour the liquid mixture through the feed tube as fast as the flour absorbs it. Process until dough cleans the sides of the work bowl and forms a ball. Then process for 30 seconds to knead dough. Dough may be slightly sticky.
2b. BY HAND: Add flour and salt to a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center, then pour in the yeast mixture and the oil and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until dough is elastic and satiny, approximately 10 minutes.
3. Form dough into one large ball or two small balls. Coat evenly with olive oil; transfer to a lightly oiled bowl(s), cover in plastic wrap, and leave to rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
4. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and punch down. Roll into desired crust sizes and place on baking pans lightly sprayed with vegetable oil cooking spray. Follow with a pizza recipe.
Recipe courtesy of Cuisinart
NOTE: I don't bake this on a metal pan. Instead, I crank my oven to 525F, let it heat for an hour (so I turn the oven on first thing), and bake this for two minutes on parchment paper directly on my pizza stone, then I remove the paper and continue baking for 8-9 minutes longer.
I also either shape this by hand (which makes a medium-thickness crust, or i roll it out to make a thin crust. If I'm doing a thin crust, I put my stone on the middle oven rack, and if I'm doing a medium-thick crust, I put my stone on the bottom rack.