A pizza base, also known as a pizza crust, is the foundation on which the toppings are put on a pizza. It is normally created using flour, water, yeast, and salt and comes in a range of thicknesses ranging from thin and crispy to thick and doughy. Pizza bases occur in a variety of styles, including Neapolitan, New York, and Chicago, and are distinguished by how they are prepared, the thickness of the crust, and the ingredients utilised. The original pizza, the Neapolitan style, is distinguished by its thin and soft crust, while the New York style is distinguished by its wide and thin slices and the Chicago style by its deep-dish and filled pizza. Pre-made pizza bases are available in supermarkets, or they can be created from scratch at home or in a pizzeria. They are frequently regarded as a comfort dish and are appreciated in both informal and formal situations.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour/Maida – 2-2 ⅓ cups
- Instant yeast – 2 tbsp.
- Sugar – 1½ tsp
- Salt – ¾ teaspoon
- Oil/butter – 2 Tablespoons
- Water for soft dough
Cooking Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp of instant yeast, 1 tsp of sugar, and 1 tsp of salt.
- Stir in 2 tbsp of oil or butter and 1 cup of warm water with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.
- Drizzle the oil liberally into a second, large, clean bowl and rub the edges of the bowl with your hand.
- Lightly flour your hands and shape the pizza dough into a round ball, then transfer it to the oiled bowl.
- Roll the pizza dough around the inside of the bowl with your hands until it is coated with oil, then cover the bowl securely with plastic wrap and set it aside in a warm area.
- Allow the dough to rise for 30 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, gently deflate it with your hands and transfer it to a lightly floured surface to knead briefly until smooth (about 3-5 times).
- Shape the dough into a 12-inch circle using your hands or a rolling pin.
- Transfer the dough to a hot tawa or a pizza pan coated with parchment paper and either squeeze or fold the sides over to create a crust.
- To prevent the dough from bubbling up on the tawa, punch holes all over the centre of the pizza base using a fork.
- After 1 minute, your tasty pizza crust is ready for toppings. Enjoy!