Quick basic pizza dough

To make 2 x 25cm/10inch pizzas

Good

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Preheat oven or bbq to 250C

Step 2

Sift flour into food processor, together with salt, sugar & instant yeast

Step 3

Turn on at full speed & add oil followed by half the warm water in a thin stream. The dough will now have the consistency of breadcrumbs

Step 4

Add the rest of the water little by little until the dough forms a ball & becomes slightly sticky - if you have inadvertently added too much water & the dough sticks to the sides shake in more flour a spoonful at a time until it forms a ball

Step 5

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface & knead by hand for 5-8 mins

Step 6

Brush a large mixing bowl with a little olive oil, put the dough in a ball & brush all over with a little oil. Cover with a cloth & put to prove in a warm place until it has doubled in bulk. This will take at least an hour

Step 7

Half an hour before you want to cook the pizzas, turn on oven / bbq.

Step 8

Knock down the dough & divide into portions. Keep remaining portions covered until you are ready to use. Working on a heavily floured surface, flatten one round using a rolling pin & your fingers to stretch it.

Step 9

Place the dough on a heavily floured paddle or bread board. Have toppings ready (room temperature) & work quickly as you place in pizza. Loosen dough with a long metal spatula just before putting in oven / bbq

Step 10

Throw the pizza from the paddle/breadboard onto the stone with abrupt jerking motions of your wrist. Pizza cooks on about 6-7 mins