DELISH PIZZA RECIPES

Steps:

• Grease a large bowl with cooking spray. In a small bowl add water and sugar and stir to dissolve, then sprinkle over yeast and let sit until frothy, about 8 minutes. In another large bowl, add flour, salt, and oil. Pour in yeast mixture, then mix with a wooden spoon until everything is combined and a shaggy dough begins to form. Knead against sides of bowl until dough starts to come together, then turn onto your work surface and knead, adding a pinch of flour if needed, until it feels elastic and only slightly tacky, 5 minutes. Form into a tight ball, place into prepared bowl, and cover with a clean dish towel. Let rise in a warm spot in your kitchen until doubled in size, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Gently punch down dough, then divide in 2, and roll into balls. At this point, you can freeze one, or make two pizzas. Let dough balls rest as you preheat oven to 500° and grease a large baking sheet with olive oil. Sprinkle all over with 2 tablespoons cornmeal.  On your work surface, gently flatten one ball of dough and roll with a rolling pin (or stretch with your hands) until about 12” in diameter (as thin as you can). Carefully transfer to prepared baking sheet and brush dough all over with oil. Then, add your 1/2 cup sauce to middle of dough and spread outwards with a spoon or ladle, leaving about 1” for the crust. Top with half the slices of mozzarella. Bake until crust is golden and cheese is melty, about 15 minutes.  Top with fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, and red pepper flakes.  Repeat with remaining dough and toppings for second pizza. 

Steps:

• Make tangzhong: In a small pot over medium-low heat, continuously whisk together 3 tablespoons flour and ? cup water until mixture is thickened and begins to bubble, 3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, whisk together water, sugar, and yeast and let sit until frothy, about 15 minutes. Add to bowl remaining flours, the cooled tangzhong, and salt. Using a spatula, mix ingredients until a wet, soft dough forms. Cover bowl and let rest 30 minutes to 1 hour. With dampened hands, going around the bowl, pick up one edge of the dough, stretch it upwards and fold it toward the opposite edge. Repeat this stretch and fold motion around the dough, then flip dough upside down so that the smooth side is facing up. Cover and rest at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours, performing a stretch-and-fold every 45 minutes to 1 hour, for a total of four sets of stretch and folds.  After the final stretch and fold, halve dough and shape each half into a smooth boule. Grease two small bowls with olive oil, then place a boule into each bowl, seam-side down. Cover and rest overnight in the refrigerator, up to 4 days. (The longer the rest, the more flavorful the dough!) Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, stir together all sauce ingredients until well combined. Refrigerate until ready for assembly. To assemble the pie: Remove dough from refrigerator and let come to room temperature for 1 hour. When dough has become more pliable, coat bottom of a 10” cast-iron skillet with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds. On a lightly floured surface, using the pads of your fingers, flatten dough starting at the center of the ball, working your way outward. Gently stretch dough until it is about 8” wide, then place into prepared skillet and continue to press dough outward to reach ½” up the sides of the skillet. Let dough rest and proof until puffy, about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.  30 minutes before you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 500°. Place your skillet on medium heat and cook until edge of dough begins to sizzle and top of dough begins to puff, 4 to 5 minutes. Top dough evenly with cheeses, then dollop on sauce by the spoonful. Remove from heat and transfer to preheated oven. Bake until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, sauce is mostly set, and edges are caramelized, 11 to 14 minutes. Let pie cool briefly in skillet, then transfer to a cooling rack before serving.