Homemade Pizza Dough

Pizza dough rising for the second time. Left has addition of spices, while the right has additional sunflower seeds.

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Ingredients:

• 1 package (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups gluten flour(s) (We use half unbleached all-purpose and half whole wheat flour)
• 2 T olive oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• ​sprinkling ​of herbs and spices, as desired (we use oregano, basil, dill, and 1 tsp garlic powder)

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Process:

• Preheat oven to 425° F
• Line baking sheet (we use an 18" x 12" tray) with parchment paper
• Combine yeast and warm water in a medium bowl; mix and let yeast dissolve
• Add remaining ingredients; mix well
• Knead dough about twenty times
• Cover dough; let dough rise (at least 5-10 minutes)
• Flatten and shape dough on a flat surface, until it is approximately the size of the baking sheet
• Place dough onto baking sheet
• Flatten and shape dough to fit the baking sheet
• Cover dough; let dough rise (at least 5-10 minutes)
• Follow the stuffed crust steps, if desired (as described below)
• Spread sauce in an even layer over the dough
• Add sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, ground chia seeds, and a light layer of cooked quinoa
• Add a layer of cheese(s), such as: shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar [old/aged/sharp varieties], crumbled feta
• Sprinkle ground black pepper onto the cheese layer
• Add remaining toppings, such as: meat [pepperoni, ham, sausage, bacon], veggies [onions, green onions, bell peppers, spinach, arugula, artichokes], fruit [tomatoes, pineapple], and more [capers, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes]
• Sprinkle seasonings, such as: basil, dill, oregano, ground black pepper
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown
• Remove from oven; let cool slightly so cheese and toppings can firm up
• Cut into pieces (using a pizza cutter, we slice it into 12-16 pieces)

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Stuffed Crust Variation:

After the dough is in the baking sheet and has risen twice, follow these steps for a stuffed crust:

• Add a border of pizza sauce about one inch from the edge of the dough
• Add shredded cheese or cheese sticks to this line of sauce, if desired
• Fold dough over sauce and "pinch" dough together to create a pocket

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Breads | Recipe by C.S.

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