Home made pizza bases...

This is a recipe I learned years ago while living in the USA. I have used this same recipe for years now, and have just made small adaptations to suit the way we like to eat it. It's time consuming, but well worth it for the end product!

Ingredients for bases;
(Quantities are measured in Metric not Imperial measurement. It makes two large pizza bases)

4 Cups Plain Flour or Plain Wholemeal Flour
1 Sachet of 'quick rise' Yeast
1 Tsp Sugar (you can play with this depending on how you like the taste)
1/2 Tsp Salt
4 Tbsp Olive Oil (have also used Coconut Oil and Rice Bran Oil all work just fine)
1.5 Cups Warm Water

Toppings:
Tomato Paste or Pizza sauce
Cheese
Mixed herbs or Italian herbs (optional)
Vegetables - mushrooms, tomatoes, capsicum, red onion etc (you can use whatever you like!)
Meats - Ham and Mild Salami for the kids, and spicy Pepperoni for the adults!
If you like it spicy - Add Jalapeños and chill flakes

Method;

Preheat oven to approx 180 Degrees Celsius (Fan Forced).

Place flour into a mixing bowl. In the centre of the flour make a 'crater'. Pour the sachet of yeast and the sugar into the crater. Add the salt and the oil into the bowl, at the very edge of the flour. Then slowly pour the warm water on top of the yeast and sugar. Wait 5-10 minutes and you'll start to see the yeast and sugar react, a 'foam' will appear to rise up to the top of the water. When this has happened, start mixing together with your hands (ensure your hands are clean before you do this). Once the mixture is all combined, knead the dough to get any air bubbles out. Then cover the dough in the mixing bowl, and allow it to rise (according to the time required for your particular brand of yeast). The brand I use, usually takes about 40 mins to rise.

While I'm waiting for the dough to rise, I place my pizza stones in the oven to preheat. I usually prep two large chopping boards, and by this I mean I've sprinkled them with flour in preparation for rolling the dough out. I use this time to prep the ingredients for the top of the pizza bases. Chop the vegetables and selected meats (slice the pepperoni etc), and grate cheese.

Once this is completed, it's time to roll out your pizza bases.

Roll out your bases as evenly as possible. Once this is done, use clean hands, and use your fingers to push down into the base (pushing down with your finger tips), to remove any further air bubbles. Then spread tomato paste or pizza sauce evenly over the bases. Sprinkle any herbs and spices (such as Italian herbs or chilli flakes). The vegetables go on next. Spread them out evenly over the bases. I love lots of veggies on mine, so I don't mind if they pile up! After this, add any meats such as ham or salami.

Generously sprinkle cheese over the top!

Over the top of the cheese is where the pepperoni goes. Spread these out as evenly as possible. I love lots of pepperoni, so we're quite generous.

Before I place the pizzas on the pizza stones, I sprinkle the stones with a little bit of Semolina (or something to help prevent the pizza bases from sticking to the pizza stones). Then I place the pizzas carefully onto the pizza stones. 

I don't have a set cooking time. I tend to just wait until the cheese and bases have turned a beautiful golden brow colour.

​ENJOY!