Sashko's Homemade Pizza Recipe

There's nothing quite like the smell of a freshly baked homemade pizza coming out of the oven. This is my go-to pizza recipe that I've perfected over time. It's simple, delicious, and the dough is incredibly easy to make!

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 500g all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• Half a packet of instant yeast (I use "saf-instant", but any instant yeast works)
• 300ml warm water
• 4 tbsp olive oil

For the Sauce

• 150-200g tomato paste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Italian herbs (oregano, basil, or Italian seasoning blend)
• Hot sauce or chili flakes (optional)

Toppings

• Pepperoni (or any similar salami)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Aged cheese like Maasdam, Radamer, or any flavorful hard cheese
• Mushrooms (optional)
• Olives (optional)

Making the Dough

1. Sift the flour — Sift 500g of flour into a large bowl and make a well in the center.

2. Add ingredients:

   • 1 tsp salt
   • 2 tsp sugar
   • 11g of instant yeast (Half a packet of "saf-instant")
   • 300ml warm water
   • 4 tbsp olive oil

3. Knead the dough — Mix everything together until you get a smooth, elastic dough. Don't overwork it!

4. Let it rise — Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and leave it in a warm place for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.

Making the Pizza

Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F). If you have a modern oven with convection, use the fan-assisted mode with top and bottom heating elements.

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Punch down the risen dough and knead it briefly. Roll it out to fit your baking pan.

Step 2: Shape the Pizza

Place the dough on your baking pan and shape the edges to form a crust. Brush the crust with olive oil for a golden finish.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Mix together:

• 150-200g tomato paste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• A generous amount of Italian herbs
• Hot sauce or chili flakes (if you like it spicy)

Step 4: Assemble

1. Spread the sauce evenly over the dough, leaving the crust clean.
2. Arrange pepperoni slices on top.
3. Add mushrooms and olives if using.

Step 5: First Bake

Put the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Add the Cheese

At the 15-minute mark, take the pizza out quickly and add:

• Mozzarella (torn into pieces or sliced)
• Grated aged cheese on top

Step 7: Final Bake

Return the pizza to the oven for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots.

Done! 🍕

Take it out, let it cool for a minute (if you can resist), slice it up, and enjoy your homemade masterpiece!

Quick Reference

Total active time: ~30 minutes
Total time including rising: ~1.5 hours
Serves: 4-6 people (one large pizza)

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Смачного! 🇺🇦