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Cheese Pizza Recipe

Name: Dua Pies Cheese Pizza Recipe
Cook time: 1 h 50 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp instant yeast; 1 tsp fine salt; 1 tsp granulated sugar; 1 cups warm water (about 105–115°F / 40–46°C); 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 cups canned crushed tomatoes (or passata); 1 each garlic clove, minced; 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp fine salt; 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity); 8 oz fresh mozzarella, shredded or torn; 2 tbsp grated Parmesan (or Pecorino Romano); 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil; 6 each fresh basil leaves (optional); 1 tbs coarse cornmeal or flour (for dusting); 0 to taste salt; 0 to taste red pepper flakes (optional)

Inspired by Dua Pie

Time1h 50m

Serves2

Make Cheese Pizza Recipe in just 1h 50m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Pizza Dough

3 cups 00 bread flour

1 tsp instant yeast

1 tsp fine salt

1 tsp granulated sugar

1 cups warm water (about 105–115°F / 40–46°C)

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Sauce

1 cups canned crushed tomatoes (or passata)

1 each garlic clove, minced

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp Dried oregano

1 tsp fine salt

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

Topping & Finish

8 oz fresh mozzarella, shredded or torn

2 tbsp grated Parmesan (or Pecorino Romano)

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

6 each fresh basil leaves (optional)

1 tbs coarse cornmeal or flour (for dusting)

0 to taste Celtic sea salt

0 to taste red pepper flakes (optional)

Method

Pizza Dough

Activate and mix

In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine warm water, sugar and instant yeast. Stir gently and let sit 2–3 minutes until foamy. Add flour and salt. If using a stand mixer, attach dough hook.

Knead

Add olive oil and knead by hand for about 8–10 minutes on a lightly floured surface until the dough is smooth and elastic, or mix with a stand mixer on low-medium speed for 6–8 minutes. Dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky; add a tablespoon of flour if excessively sticky.

First rise

Shape dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 1½ hours.

Shape

Punch down the risen dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. For one 12–14" pizza, shape the dough into a round and use your hands to stretch into a 12"–14" circle with a slightly thicker rim. Alternatively, divide into two portions for smaller pizzas and rest 10 minutes before shaping.

Sauce

Mix crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, salt, pepper and optional sugar in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning. The sauce does not need to be cooked; a simple uncooked sauce is perfect for a classic cheese pizza.

Topping & Finish

Preheat oven and prepare surface

Place a pizza stone or an inverted baking sheet in the oven and preheat to the highest temperature (450–500°F / 230–260°C) for at least 30 minutes. If you don't have a stone, use the inverted sheet and preheat as directed. Dust a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet with the cornmeal or flour to prevent sticking.

Assemble pizza

Transfer the shaped dough to the prepared peel or dusted sheet. Brush the rim lightly with 1 tsp olive oil. Spread 1/2 to 2/3 cup of the prepared tomato sauce over the center, leaving a 1/2"–1" border. Distribute the shredded/torn fresh mozzarella evenly over the sauce. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan across the top. Add a light grind of black pepper and optional red pepper flakes.

Bake

Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or inverted baking sheet. Bake 8–12 minutes (time will vary by oven and temperature) until the crust is golden and charred in spots and the cheese is bubbling and slightly browned. Rotate once halfway through baking for even color.

Finish and serve

Remove pizza to a cutting board. Let rest 2 minutes, then scatter fresh basil leaves on top. Slice and serve immediately. Taste and add salt or red pepper flakes to taste.