The Best Pizza Dough

I'm on a pizza dough quest to find the best homemade thin crust pizza.

I think I found it...

I recently took a pizza dough class using various types of flour.  It was a wonderful and informative class.  It was amazing and enlightening to delve into the world of flours.  Their different compositions and baking properties lend to the finished product.


My favorite was by King Arthur flour called King Arthur Italian style flour.  This is what they call an "American clone of Italian 00 flour".  It has a lower protein level which makes the dough more supple, and in turn easier to work with.   It is a great flour to use for pizza dough, calzone, flatbreads...you get the picture!  


This flour makes a really tender dough.  It's soft and easy to work with.  Best of all it produces a light as air, tender, crisp pizza dough.  

This crust the best, by far, that I've ever tasted!   Certainly the best out of the several we made in class.  I immediately went home and ordered some of this incredible flour.  I could hardly wait when the box arrived.  I made pizza immediately.  Please note:  the recipe below makes two pizza crusts.  You can either half the recipe or make both and freeze half of the dough so you have pizza in a flash on another night!

Here's where you can purchase this wonderful flour.  King Arthur Italian style flour

Judge for yourself...I'm in heaven, and can't wait for another bite!

I used a pesto dipping oil for the sauce, and just topped it with heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese.  Delicious!!!

Here are some step by step pics, so you can see the dough process.

 

Oh yea...it's that good!

Thin Crust Pizza Dough

makes 2 crusts

2 t instant yeast

2 t sugar

1 1/2 t salt

1 T Baker's Special Dry Milk (optional) or nonfat dry milk

3 t pizza dough flavor (optional) (available at www.kingarthurflour.com)

3 c King Arthur Italian style flour 

1 c water

2 T olive oil

In a bread machine set on dough cycle, combine all ingredients.  Allow machine to mix and complete the first rise.  Remove dough from the machine and place on a well floured surface, or board.

Divide the dough in half.  Roll one half of the dough out to your desired thickness and then place on a prepared pizza pan, either using cooking spray, or a light cover of cornmeal.  

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, and allow dough to rest in the pan, covered for another 15-30 minutes.  Top with your favorite sauce and toppings.  Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown, and toppings are bubbly.

Linked to:  foodie friday