This is the simplest pizza dough we know: just mix together and leave alone to rise. This makes enough for 3 pies’ worth of homemade pizza. However, if dough making intimidates you, try buying 3 pies’ worth of ready-made dough from your local pizza parlor. For our pizza recipes, click here.
Ingredients
7 cups flour
2 teaspoons sugar
5 teaspoons salt
2 3/4 cups warm water*
2 packages active dry yeast
5 tablespoons olive oil
*Run the tap water warm and stick your wrist in the stream. When you can’t feel the water, because it’s the same temp as your body, fill up your measuring cup.
Mix together the flour, sugar, and salt in your largest bowl.
In a smaller bowl, whisk together the water and the yeast until dissolved. Add the olive oil. Pour over the dry ingredients, and, using a rubber spatula, mix together. You’ll have a wet, raggedy dough. Turn it out onto an oiled piece of plastic wrap and wash and dry the bowl. Brush the bowl with olive oil, and place the dough back in. (If you have a second large bowl, you can oil it and transfer the dough straight to that.) Cover with the plastic wrap and leave in a warm-ish spot for 1 hour. Then, with an oiled hand, punch the risen dough down. It will deflate. Cover with plastic wrap and leave for another 30 minutes.
When you’re nearly ready to eat, ease the dough out from the bowl onto a floured countertop. Divide it into three balls, cover them with plastic wrap, and let them rest for 10 minutes. Then shape them into your desired pizza-rectangular, circular, or totally free form-using your hands or a rolling pin. Transfer the dough to parchment-lined baking sheets.
