HOW DO PIZZA STONES WORK RECIPES

Steps:

• Place 3 heaped tablespoons of strong bread flour and whisk into warm water. Once whisked, add the yeast and whisk again. Leave in a warm place for around 5 minutes until the mixture is frothy.
• In a large bowl, add half the flour, plus the yeast mixture and mix well. Add the salt and remaining flour to the mix. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes. Drizzle the bottom of the bowl with olive oil, place the dough ball back in the bowl, drizzle oil on top. 
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in the sun or another warm place for  20-30 mins, or until the dough has doubled in size (whichever comes first). Alternatively, you can put warm water in an empty proving tub, put the dough in another proving tub and sit the dough proving tub over the proving tub filled with water.
• Divide the bulk-proofed dough into 5x250g balls, or 4x330g balls. Ball up the dough, ensuring the tops of the balls are smooth. You can find out how to do so here. Brush with olive oil or warm water, cover with plastic wrap and leave somewhere warm for 15-20mins, or until doubled in size.
• While the dough balls are resting, fire up your Ooni pizza oven, set up your ingredients, and get ready for a pizza the action! 

Steps:

• Place two-thirds of the water in a large bowl. In a saucepan or microwave, bring the other third of water to boil, then add it to the cold water in the bowl. This creates the correct temperature for activating yeast. Whisk the salt and yeast into the warm water.If mixing by hand: Place the flour in a large bowl and pour the yeast mixture into it. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough starts to form. Continue mixing by hand until the pizza dough comes together in a ball. Turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead with both hands for about 10 minutes, until it is firm and stretchy. Return the dough to the bowl. Cover with cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for around 2 hours or until doubled in size.If using a mixer: Fit the mixer with the dough hook and place the flour in the mixer bowl. Turn the machine on at a low speed and gradually add the yeast mixture to the flour. Once combined, leave the dough to keep mixing to at the same speed for 5-10 minutes, or until the dough is firm and stretchy. Cover the dough with cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for around 2 hours or until doubled in size.
• When the dough has roughly doubled in size, divide it into 3 or 4 equal pieces, depending on what size you want your pizzas to be (either 12 inches or 16 inches wide). Place each piece of dough in a separate bowl or tray, cover with cling film and leave to rise for another 30-60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
• Kneading and stretching the dough:Our top tip is always to start with a perfectly rounded ball of pizza dough as this helps to keep the shape of the pizza base circular during the stretching process. Place the ball on a lightly floured surface, flour your hands and use your fingertips to press the dough into a small, flat disc. Working from the center, push the dough outwards while spreading your fingers, making the disc slightly bigger. Pick up the pizza dough and gently pinch it all around the edge, allowing gravity to pull it downwards into a circle. Neapolitan-style pizza bases are very thin, so you should be able to see through the base when you hold it up to the light. Take care when doing this – you don’t want it to tear.
• Once the pizza dough is fully stretched, lightly flour your pizza peel and lay the base on it. If at this point you see any small holes in the dough, gently pinch them back together. Once you’re happy with the base, add your toppings and bake in your Ooni pizza oven as indicated in your chosen recipe.