Mi Authentic Italian Pizza Crust

INGREDIENTS

250 grams Caputo 00 Flour (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 cup cool water

1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast

1 tsp Fine Sea Salt

1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar

Dissolve the yeast in warm water with the sugar. In a standing mixer bowl, add the cool water and dissolved yeast.

With the mixer on slow speed, using the paddle blade, add about 1/3 or so of the Caputo 00 flour and mix (increasing the speed) for a minute or two, until a smooth “batter” forms. This helps to develop the gluten in the dough.

CAPUTO 00 FLOUR HELPS GLUTEN DEVELOP IN THE DOUGH FOR A PERFECT TEXTURE.

Add remaining Caputo 00 flour and salt.  Once the dough comes together, switch to a dough hook and use a slow/med speed to kneed the dough for 8-10 minutes.

First Proofing

Form dough into a ball and transfer to a bowl lightly oiled with extra virgin olive oil and cover with plastic wrap until rested and has slightly grown in size (approx 1.5 hours).  Since very little yeast is used, the dough shouldn’t double in size, as is common for bread recipes.

Remove dough from bowl and portion into two dough balls.  Place on a floured sheet pan, cover well with plastic wrap and a towel to make a tight seal and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Remove dough balls from fridge 1.5 hours prior to making pizza. This allows the dough to reach room temperature, making it more workable.

HELPFUL TIPS

An alternative / quicker method is to forgo the 2nd long proof in the fridge and instead proof the dough the 2nd time at room temp (approximately 4 hours) Care must be taken so that the dough balls do not overproof (ie more than double in size). If it appears the dough would be ready too soon, it can simply be put in the fridge to slow down the growing dough a bit. The goal is to have the dough “rise” in the oven – and making sure the dough doesn’t “overproof” is key!

The longer (refrigerated) second proofing yields a more favorable crust that tastes less “yeasty” & is definitely worth the extra preparation day.

The sugar simply helps with the browning of the crust in a conventional oven that tops out at about 500 degrees.

Use a baking stone or baking steel.  Preheat oven for an hour at the maximum temperature prior to making pizzas.