Master Pizza Dough

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
2. In a large mixing bowl or a bowl of the stand mixer with a hook attachment, combine the yeast and the lukewarm water together.
3. Mix well and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy and fully dissolved.
4. Now add flour, olive oil, salt and sugar. Mix by hand or with the dough hook on low speed for a minute or two.
5. Once all the ingredients are fully combined, knead the mixture with your hands or with the dough hook on low-medium speed. Make sure the kneaded dough is soft and smooth.
6. Poke the dough with your fingers, if it bounces then it means that the dough is ready to rise.
7. Now shape the dough into a ball shape. Place it into a large mixing bowl that is light coated with the olive oil. Cover the dough tightly with a plastic wrap.
8. Place the dough in a warm environment. For the warm temperature, place it near the pre-heated oven so that the heat of the oven helps the dough to rise. After an hour or two, the dough will rise.
9. Divide the dough into two balls. Roll each half into equal balls. You can place one of the dough into the fridge to use at a later time.
10. The other dough is ready to be filled with your favorite pizza toppings!

Trivia

• The word pizza was first mentioned in a Latin text written in Southern Italy in 997 CE.
• In the 1800s, most Italians considered pizza as a peasant meal.
• Regular thin pizza crust is the most popular crust which is preferred by 61% of the world’s population.
• Thick and deep crust is the second most popular crust which is preferred by 14% of the world’s population.

Only 11% of the world’s population prefers extra thin pizza crust.