1 1/2 cups warm water (105F)
4 1/2 cups flour
1 Tbls. olive oil
2 1/2 teas. sugar
2 1/2 teas. salt
1/2 teas. yeast
In a large bowl, mix water with sugar and salt until dissolved. Add oil, and
then flour. Stir with heavy spoon for 1 minute. Turn out to a floured board and
press into a circle (it will be quite dry). Sprinkle yeast evenly over dough and
knead for twelve minutes.
Divide dough into portions:
6 oz. for Calzones, 10 oz. for 9 inch, 18 oz. for 12 inch, 25 oz. for 15 inch
(This recipe makes about 34 oz. Adjust ingredient amounts for your purposes)
Shape each portion by sliding your palms across the top portion of dough while
curving your fingers inward toward each other and "tucking" the dough into
the center. You want a dough ball without visible seams except the bottom. Set
formed dough balls on plate, cover with plastic, and allow to proof for 1−2 hours
at room temperature to use the same day, or store in refrigerator to use the next
day. To stretch dough, place dough ball on lightly floured surface, and lightly
flour the top. Use fingertips to evenly flatten out the dough ball. Work from the
edges to the center. Place both hands within the shell edge and stretch with
fingertips and palms maintaining an even pressure. Or, use a lightly floured
rolling pin to stretch to desired shape.
Cooking pizzas with this dough should be done on a baking stone. Using a pan
will produce a very soft "doughy" crust. The stone in the oven should be
preheated to 500F for an hour prior to baking, and should be placed in the
middle of the oven. After stretching the dough, liberally sprinkle cornmeal or
semolina on pizza peel (a wooden paddle with a handle to slide the pizza in
the oven) or a cutting board. The cornmeal allows the pizza to slide onto the
stone easily. After topping the pizza, when you are ready to cook it, pick up
an edge of the dough and lightly blow air underneath. This will loosen any
sticky areas under the dough and redistribute the cornmeal. Shake the peel
or cutting board to make sure none of the dough is sticking. Carefully slide
the pizza into the oven.
