Cheese Pizza Recipe
Make Cheese Pizza Recipe in just 1h 40m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Dough
Sauce
Cheese & Assembly
Method
Dough
- 1
Activate yeast
In a small bowl, combine warm water (105–115°F / 40–46°C), sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start with new yeast.
- 2
Mix dough
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine 2 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt. Add the foamy yeast mixture and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, adding remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed.
- 3
Knead
Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic (or with a stand mixer on medium speed 5–7 minutes). The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky; add small dustings of flour only if excessively sticky.
- 4
- 5
Shape
Punch down the risen dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface. For one 12–14-inch pizza, shape into a ball and let rest 10 minutes to relax the gluten. Use hands or a rolling pin to stretch/roll into a 12–14-inch round, leaving a slightly thicker rim for the crust. Dust a pizza peel or baking sheet with 1 tablespoon cornmeal or semolina to prevent sticking.
Sauce
- 6
Combine sauce ingredients
While the dough is rising, combine crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon olive oil in a bowl. Stir until smooth and well combined.
- 7
Taste and adjust
Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning (add a pinch more sugar for brightness or more salt/pepper to preference). No cooking required for a fresh-tasting pizza sauce, but you can simmer gently for 10 minutes if you prefer a slightly cooked flavor. Let cool to room temperature before spreading on dough.
Cheese & Assembly
- 8
Preheat oven
Place a pizza stone or an inverted heavy baking sheet on the center rack and preheat oven to 500°F (260°C) for at least 30 minutes. If your oven won't reach 500°F, preheat to the highest setting available (475–500°F).
- 9
Assemble pizza
Transfer the stretched dough to the prepared pizza peel or baking sheet dusted with cornmeal. Lightly brush the outer rim of the crust with about 1 teaspoon olive oil. Spread about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 3/4–1 inch border for the crust. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then scatter the grated Parmesan on top.
- 10
Bake
Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet. Bake for 8–12 minutes, rotating halfway if your oven has hot spots, until cheese is bubbly and golden and crust is deeply golden brown in spots. Baking time will vary with oven temperature and thickness of the dough.
- 11
Finish
Remove pizza from oven and let rest 2–3 minutes. Tear and scatter fresh basil leaves over the top if using. Slice and serve hot.
