Easy Pizza Base

By OcadoLife
Created by Pizza Pilgrims pizzeria founders Thom and James Elliot, this Easy Pizza Base recipe makes the ultimate fail-safe dough. Make a batch in advance and freeze, ready to whip out future speedy dinners. Match the…
Shop for ingredients

Time and servings

Total time
Prep time

Ingredients

3 total
  • 1 kg of extra fine 00 flour, plus extra for rolling
  • 2 g of fresh yeast or 1g dried yeast
  • 30 g of fine sea salt

Method

6 steps
  1. Step 1

    Pile the flour onto the worktop and make a well in the centre.

  2. Step 2

    Dissolve the yeast in 620ml cold water; pour a third into the well. Using your fingers, bring in the flour from the sides until the liquid is a porridgey consistency. Add more water and repeat until all the liquid is used up and you have a rough, wet mixture.

  3. Step 3

    Sprinkle with sea salt; knead for about 8-10 mins, until elastic.

  4. Step 4

    Cover with a clean damp tea towel and rest for 10 mins.

  5. Step 5

    Divide into 8 x 230g balls; place on a tray 3cm apart. Cover again; leave to prove at room temperature for 2-3 hrs until doubled in size; chill overnight or freeze until needed.

  6. Step 6

    Remove from the fridge 1-2 hrs before making your pizzas. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and stretch it out to about 25cm in diameter, before adding your toppings. If you like, you can make a stuffed crust, such as in the Frying Pan Pizza with ’Nduja and Ricotta Stuffed Crust, which has a stuffing of ’nduja and ricotta. Whatever stuffing you want to use, simply dollop your mixture around the edge of the pizza, being sure to leave a gap 2.5cm from the outer edge. Then carefully turn up the dough from the outer edge a little at a time and fold it over the stuffing so it’s hidden. Then press with your fingertips, all the way round, to seal the edge of the crust to the base.