Description
This easy homemade pizza dough recipe uses bread flour to create a chewy, high-structure crust, perfect for stuffing with a savory garlic-herb mozzarella filling. The resulting pizza has a soft interior and crispy exterior, making it an ideal choice for a family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (100-110°F)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 1/4 cups bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for bowl and drizzling
- 1 1/2 cups grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for filling)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine warm water and sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Knead Dough: Whisk flour and salt in a separate bowl. Add the yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons olive oil, mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 10-12 minutes by hand or 5-7 minutes with a stand mixer until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn to coat, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, combine mozzarella cheese, 2 tablespoons of parsley, oregano, garlic, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix well.
- Shape Pizza: Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a 12-14 inch circle (or divide for smaller pizzas). Spoon the filling in a ring around the edge, about 1 inch in from the perimeter.
- Seal Crust: Fold the outer edge of the dough over the filling, pressing and pinching firmly to seal the cheese inside. Transfer the dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza peel.
- Bake Pizza: Preheat oven to 450-480°F (230-250°C). Add desired toppings to the pizza center. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Let the pizza cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing. Garnish with remaining parsley and a drizzle of olive oil before serving hot.
Notes
To achieve the best results, ensure your water temperature is between 100-110°F (38-43°C) for yeast activation. Use low-moisture mozzarella for the filling to prevent the dough from becoming soggy. If substituting dried herbs for fresh, use approximately 1/3 less dried herbs.
- Prep Time: 75 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (of 8)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg