BASIC CHEESE PIZZA

BASIC CHEESE PIZZA

I just tried this recipe and it was GREAT. I have spent many wasted hours on other recipes that made me feel that I was lacking but this one is defiantly a keeper.

READY IN: 1 hr 13 mins

SERVES: 8

YIELD: 1 pizza

UNITS: US

INGREDIENTS

1⁄4ounce dry yeast
1cup water, lukewarm
1teaspoon sugar
3cups bread flour
1⁄2teaspoon salt
1tablespoon olive oil
1⁄2cup tomato puree
2tablespoons tomato paste
1garlic clove, minced
1tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
4ounces fresh mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

Dough:

In a glass or plastic bowl, combine yeast, water, and sugar (the water can just be water from the tap, make sure it's below 100°F).
Stir to dissolve the yeast and let the yeast "bloom" for 15 minutes.
Stir in 1 cup flour, add salt, and then stir in another cup of flour (the remaining cup of flour will be your "bench" flour and added flour).
Dump mixture onto kneading board and work in last cup of flour, kneading until dough is soft and elastic, but not sticky. Form dough into a ball.
In another bowl, pour in the 1 tbsp olive oil and spread around.
Coat ball of dough with oil and cover bowl with a damp towel and let dough rise for 40 minutes.
Punch down dough and knead on board about 2 minutes. Dough is now ready to spread in the pan.
To avoid sticking of crust, lightly spray pizza pan with olive oil or vegetable oil spray and then work dough to pan (or use free form pan) - this dough is enough for 1 14-in pizza with a thin bottom crust and enough dough around the edge to munch.

Sauce: