Traditional Italian Pizza Dough
Want to know how to make a traditional Italian pizza dough just like the Italians make it? Well you have come to the right place because I’m going to share a recipe that comes straight from where they started it all, Naples! And I can promise you that its going to taste just as good as the one you get from your fancy pizza shop!
Thats right peeps the very first pizza shop opened in Naples and actually still exists today! The story is that the shop owner was called to make some pizza for King Umberto and Queen Margherita who were coming to visit in the late 1800’s and that is how the Margherita pizza came to be! Pretty cool hey! Wouldn’t you just love to go to that pizza shop! Well, until then this is going to be the next best thing. Luckily for me my Nonna was borne and bread in Naples and she shared her traditional Italian pizza dough recipe with me.
4 Ingredients is all you need to make this Traditional Italian Pizza Dough recipe!
Thats right just 4 simple ingredients and your on your way to making delicious traditional pizza dough just like the Italians! Here’s what you need!
- Fresh Yeast: Ive tried multiple different pizza dough recipes with both fresh and dried yeast and I always find the pizza bases come out better when using fresh yeast. I buy my fresh yeast from my local delicatessen
- salt
- Water
- Strong Plain Flour such as Tipo 00. Iv’e used the Lighthouse bread & Pizza flour. The difference between your everyday all purpose flour (0) and the 00 flour is that It’s a lot finer and it has a lower gluten content. This creates a dough that is silkier and gives it just enough stretch and elasticity.
Cooking Tips
- The recipe makes enough for 6 X 30cm (12 inch) pizzas. You can roll out the bases and freeze them or freeze any leftover pizza in freezer bags for up to two months.
- Ensure when you cook the pizzas you allow the oven to heat up to its maximum Capacity. This results in crisp pizza bases.
- Using a pizza stone will give you a more authentic traditional pizza
- If using a tray, ensure you brush it with olive oil prior to placing the pizza base on it.
- To add amazing flavour to all your pizzas, I prepare a mixture of half a cup of olive oil with a clove of crushed garlic and a pinch of salt and leave to infuse. Then prior to placing the pizza in the oven I use a pastry brush to brush the oil over the pizza toppings.
Once you have your pizza dough the possibilities are endless with the toppings you can use to create different pizzas. Here are some of the classics
Margherita
Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and oregano. Simple and delicious
Capricciosa
This is my kids favourite pizza; Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, mushrooms and black olives. In Italy they also add artichokes.
Salami and pepperoni
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, hot or mild salami and sliced red capsicum
Prosciutto
For something a little bit more fancy try tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil and prosciutto. Once cooked add fresh rocket and a sprinkle of parmesan.
Get the kids involved!!
Making pizzas is such a fun way to get the kids involved in cooking. Everyone enjoys food more when they have contributed to the process. My kids love making their own pizzas and choosing their own toppings. We usually make a night of it and get everyone involved. A few glasses of wine for the adults and lots of delicious pizzas coming out of the oven. The pizzas taste great the next day warmed up under the grill and Olive loves taking leftovers in her school lunchbox.
I’m so excited writing this post and sharing the recipe with you because I know that you are going to love it! I hope you can make this a tradition with your own family and friends too. This recipe is also great for parties or for when you have a group of friends over. Just like the kids you can get your guests involved in the process.
I would love to hear your feedback! leave me a comment below or send me an email to marie@mrsfoodiemumma.com. Don’t forget to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST & INSTAGRAM!
You may also like my Italian Chicken Cacciatore Recipe or my Easy Meatball Soup!
Traditional Italian Pizza dough
Ingredients
- 30 g Fresh yeast
- 2 tsp Salt
- 600 ml lukewarm water
- 1 kg Flour strong flour such as 00
Instructions
- Place the fresh yeast in a bowl and add the salt and water. Mix thoroughly until the yeast has fully dissolved.
- Place the flour in the bowl of an electric mixer, make a well in the centre and pour in the yeast mixture. With the dough hook attachment, mix on medium speed until mixture comes together to form a smooth dough. You can add ½ a teaspoon of water at a time if the mixture is too dry.
- Lightly grease a bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with a tea towel and set aside in a warm spot to rise for at least 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, cut it into 6 pieces and roll each piece until you have 6 balls. Place the dough balls on a clean tea towel and cover with another tea towel. leave to rest for a further 1 hour.
- The dough will then be ready to be rolled out and used for your pizza bases.
I must give this a try. Always on the lookout for an authentic pizza base recipe.
Thanks Anne I really hope you enjoy 🙂