Best Miss Lorenas Homemade Thick Crust Italian Pizza Recipes

ITALIAN PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine the flour, salt, and yeast in a bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Stir to combine. Add the water and olive oil and stir until a raggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.
• Knead the dough by pushing with the base of your palm, then reforming it into a ball. Continue kneading for 8 minutes until the dough feels pillowy and has a smooth, stretchy exterior. If the dough is very sticky, add a small amount of flour while kneading. Alternatively: attach the dough hook to a stand mixer and start the mixer on medium-low speed, then allow the mixer to knead for 8 minutes.
• After the kneading is finished, divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Using floured hands, gently shape each half into a boule (ball shape) by folding the dough under itself. Set each boule on a floured surface and dab the dough with a bit of olive oil to keep it moist. Cover all boules with a damp towel and allow them to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• The dough can be used immediately. However for the BEST flavor, transfer the dough to separate sealed containers, large enough for the dough to double in size again, and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. (We always do this. But if you think ahead, it makes for a noticeably nutty, unique flavor that truly is the best homemade pizza dough you've ever had!)
• The day of serving, remove the dough from the containers, place it on a lightly floured surface covered with a towel, and allow it to come to room temperature before stretching, 30 to 45 minutes.
• When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don't have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!)
• Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough or follow these instructions: To stretch the dough, place it on the pizza peel or a lightly floured surface and gently press it into a circle, flipping several times and adding a pinch of flour if it is too sticky. Once you have about an 8-inch circle, pick up the dough and gently drape it over the knuckles on both of your hands. Slowly rotate it around, allowing gravity to stretch it into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Do not overwork or fold the dough. If the dough starts to resist stretching, put it down and allow it to rest for a few minutes, at which point it will stretch more easily.
• We bake our pizzas at 500F and use a pizza peel to transfer it to a preheated pizza stone in the oven: the bake time is around 5 to 7 minutes. See our pizza recipe posts for baking instructions.

THICK CRUST PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Combine the first 4 dry ingredients in a large bowl. I prefer to use the Kitchen Aid mixer.
• Combine water and oil, then add to the dry ingredients. I use my KitchenAid mixer to mix then use the dough hook to knead for about 5 minutes. You can mix by hand then knead on a lightly floured surface until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Grease a bowl with olive oil and put ball of dough in it. Toss it around to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise 20 minutes. I use the same mixer bowl so I don't dirty another dish. In a rush, I sometimes skip this rise. The dough will still be good, just not as thick or pliable.
• Grease a 12" or 16" pizza pan and spread dough out with your hands on the pan. Don't use a rolling pin. Let rise for 15 more minutes.
• Top pizza with olive oil, Italian spices, garlic powder, salt. Then add your favorite pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, toppings and parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 11-15 minutes.

RUSTIC ITALIAN PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven as high as it will go for at least 45 minutes to one hour.
• In the bowl of your kitchen aid and using the paddle attachment mix the flour, sea salt and active dry yeast (
• Switch to the dough hook and mix together on low speed for 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should be smooth and sticky but should not stick to the sides of the bowl, only a little to the bottom.
• (If the dough sticks to the sides sprinkle in a little more flour, if it is too dry then add a bit more water).
• After the 8 minutes have passed remove the dough from the kitchen aid and cut it into 6 pieces and form them into rounds. Place them on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and drizzle with 1 tbs of extra virgin olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit at room temperature and rise for 2 hours in a draft free area. ( I prefer the oven )
• Sprinkle the counter with a little bit of flour, take one piece of dough and press down on it with your fingers until you have 1/2" thick circle or oval. Using your fists and knuckles start stretching the dough until 10" in diameter making sure not to tear it ( this should be easy since it is a small pie).
• Dust your pizza peel (or a piece of cardboard) very well with semolina flour or corn meal and set your pizza dough on it making sure it slides easily when moved. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of the pizza sauce in the center and spread it around with the back of a spoon leaving 1 inch of space at the edges and making sure not to get any on the peel. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and add your favorite toppings. ( Don't add too many toppings, keep in mind this is a thin crust and a couple of toppings will suffice ).
• Gently slide the pie on the preheated pizza stone in a hot 525 degree or more oven, and bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. When making the breakfast pizza I find that the egg cooks perfectly in 6 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the basil and freshly grated parmigiano reggianno. Allow to rest for a few minute for the cheese to set.

MISS LORENA'S HOMEMADE THICK CRUST ITALIAN PIZZA

Steps:

• Pour yeast and water in large bowl.
• Stir and gradually add flour.
• Knead the dough.
• Coat the bowl with oil and pat on the dough.
• Cover and let rise (approximately 4 hrs).
• Heat oil in a large pot.
• Add onion and saute.
• Add the tomatoes, oregano and salt.
• Stir.
• Bring to a boil and then turn heat to low.
• Stir often.
• Once it starts to thicken, add brown sugar to taste.
• Once dough has risen, divide in half and spread out on 2 cookie sheets.
• Add grated mozzarella and toppings.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

REAL ITALIAN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to the lowest setting possible.
• Combine 4 cups flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment; turn mixer on low speed. Crumble yeast into small pieces and add to the flour. Slowly pour in water. Scrape the sides to make sure all flour is incorporated and mix until dough begins to pull away from the sides and form a ball. Drizzle in oil and mix until fully incorporated.
• Knead on low speed for 5 or 6 minutes, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons extra flour if needed. Remove dough from the bowl and use your hands to form a ball. Return dough to the bowl and score the top with an "x." Cover with a damp cloth.
• Turn oven off and place dough in the oven to rise for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.
• Remove dough from the oven and reattach the bowl to the stand mixer. Uncover and punch down dough. Knead on low speed for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a pizza stone or tray on the bottom oven rack and preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Cut dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each one into ball. Dust with flour if needed. Place balls on a sheet pan and cover with a damp cloth. Roll out each ball into a 9-inch circle and top with desired toppings (no more than 1 cup sauce per pizza).
• Place pizza on the pizza stone in the preheated oven. Immediately lower the temperature to 410 degrees F (210 degrees C) and bake for 10 to 12 minutes; actual length of time will depend on your toppings. Repeat to make remaining pizzas.

PIZZA - HOMEMADE, THICK CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 deg F.
• Mix together all the dry ingredients. Add the warm water and oil, mix well. Knead dough a few times on a lightly floured surface. Put dough back in bowl, and lightly coat dough with oil. Cover and let rest or 5 minutes. While dough is resting, mix together all ingredients for the pizza sauce.
• Divide dough in half, and press each half into an oiled pizza pan. Cook dough for 2 minutes, then take out and let cool. Put sauce then desired toppings on pizza. Cook for 18-20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned and cheese is melted.

PIZZA MARINARA (AKA REAL ITALIAN PIZZA!)

Steps:

• Pour water into bowl.
• Sprinkle with yeast and leave for five minutes.
• Stir and add sugar, salt, and olive oil. Beat well.
• Stir in half of flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Add as much of the rest of the flour as needed to make the dough just firm enough to manage.
• Knead for five minutes.
• Roll it into a ball and flatten.
• Sprinkle corn meal over pan and stretch dough over it. Make ridges at the edges.
• Let rise for fifteen minutes.
• Lightly brush or spray the dough with some oil.
• Add your choice of toppings. Heat for 20-30 minutes at 425°F.

THICK-CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 425°. Mix Bisquick, water and oil until dough forms; beat vigorously 20 strokes. Let stand 8 minutes.
• Grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x1 inch, or cookie sheet with shortening. Press dough in bottom and up sides of pan, using hands dipped in Bisquick. Or press into 13x10-inch rectangle on cookie sheet; pinch edges to form 3/4-inch rim. Spread pizza sauce over dough; top with pizza toppings. Sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is melted.