Monday 1 February 2010

Yeast Adventures – Part Two!

Oh yes, I told you that the yeast would be back. Plus, with its sell-by date on January 31st, I had no excuse. I know supermarkets set sell-by dates way in advance of the real thing – but with an ingredient that I am still slightly wary of, I wanted to be sure!

DSCF6124 A while ago, I did a biscuit challenge. I tried to re-create some of the shop-bought goodies we know and love, because making them at home means you know exactly what’s in there and you lose nasty additives and flavourings. After all, I don’t know any baker who keeps a nice jar of E-numbers in their kitchen! Now, I am trying to do more savoury things. Savoury inspiration doesn’t come naturally, especially savoury photography (sorry!). So I just thought to what I enjoy eating, at restaurants or at home. Pizza!

DSCF6122 Pizza, for me, is something I don’t really think about making totally from scratch. Yet shop-bought versions are expensive and really not the best you can get. Before this creation, the most I’ve done is make tomato sauce and decorate a naan bread (delicious and quick, by the way!). I hadn’t yet tried a proper yeasty pizza dough. There are other savoury dishes like this (always shop-bought) and I’m looking forward to attempting some new savoury ideas…as and when yummy inspiration hits! For now, I’m happy munching on this!

DSCF6129 This pizza dough was (happily) easy and delicious. It smelt strongly of olive oil – I was temporarily transported to Italy, the home of true good pizzas! My focus was on the dough, but I made a simple tomato sauce to top and then went crazy with toppings. When I go to pizza restaurants, I’m generally fussy and stick with the classic Margherita. At home I could have what I wanted and so on went the pineapple, bacon, mozzarella, tomatoes and mushrooms (for my sister, I cannot stand mushrooms.).

The recipe came from the gorgeous Supper for a Song book by Tamasin Day-Lewis. My Mum got it for Christmas and when she read it she said “I could cook my way right through this book”. SO true! I have just included the dough recipe as it has some helpful tips. Then just add sauce and toppings!

(Makes two large pizzas)
Ingredients (Pizza dough) : 500g strong white bread flour
7g sachet fast-action dry yeast
2tsp sea salt
1tbsp olive oil
about 350ml nearly hot water

1. Tip the flour onto a work surface, and add yeast and salt. Make a well in the middle and pour in the olive oil followed by about two-thirds of the warm water.

2. Begin to knead by tipping the inside wall of flour into the middle and gathering flour as you go. When it gets difficult to knead, add more warm water. Continue until you have a dough.

3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, stretching it away from you with the heel of you hand every so often, then furling it back towards you with your fingers.

4. Divide in two, shape into balls and place on an oiled baking sheet. Cover with a plastic bag and leave to rise in a warm place until they have doubled in size, about 1.5hours.

5. Preheat the oven to its highest setting, at least 230’C. Scatter semolina flour over 2 baking trays. Working with one ball at a time, knock down the dough, stretch it and then roll it out until about 5mm thick. Don’t worry, it will shrink and spring back to begin with but eventually it will obey your command. Keep the rim a little thicker. Repeat with other dough ball.

6. Spread over tomato sauce and add toppings. Bake for 15minutes before checking. Enjoy!

11 comments:

Dewi said...

Your pizza look absolutely delicious Lucy. Now you can try to make bread.

apparentlyjessy said...

I don't think any pizza tastes as good as home made pizza! I think it's the reward of all the hard work that makes it taste that much better!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Your pizza looks fantastic and so scrumptious! Great job!

Cheers,

Rosa

Bob said...

The pizza looks great! Homemade pizza is the bomb. Might I suggest putting a little honey in the dough next time? It's good stuff.

I'm with you on the mushrooms, they taste like dirt to me. Heh.

Faith said...

Your pizza looks perfect! Thin crust pizza is my favorite kind -- and I also love to go crazy with the toppings! ;)

Daily Freebies said...

Looks great! Nice work!!

Kathy said...

Lucy, you have been busy. I use 2 oz. yeast with 5lbs of white flour in flat pizza pans sprayed with pan spray to make 15 10" thin crust pizza's at 325 degree for 12 minutes for the bread then dress it with what you want.

my spatula said...

your pizza looks just PERFECT. i'm sure it tasted just as good as it looks.

Dinners and Dreams said...

It's been a really long time since I've had homemade pizza-probably since I was around your age and living with my mother who made delicious pizza. Yours looks great, Lucy.

Nisrine

Ash said...

Me too, home made pizza is always the best!! YOu can put what ever you like on it.. even if it's a little crazy!!

... I'm cravin pizza now.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it, at least for now. said...

That looks awesome and I love your blog. I will post it on my blog roll
shannon aka Margarita Stewart