Homemade Pizza with a superb rosemary flavored crispy chewy crust. Resting the dough in the refrigerator allows for its flavor to fully develop.
Pizza is so easily and readily available here in the US that I seldom ever think of making it myself. Though I do not buy it often, it is one of Ro-Jiro’s (second son) favorite foods. Knowing that he wasn’t going to get a pizza delivered to the home, he petitioned me to make it for him. How could I refuse. Even though the temperature was almost 90 outside, I cranked up the oven to 450˚F to bake these Homemade Pizzas. Good thing they were done very quickly and I was able to turn off the oven after 20 minutes…phew!
The recipe for the crust was adapted from The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion, one of my favorite cookbooks. This recipe calls for the dough to be rested in the refrigerator to give the crust better flavor and a crispy-chewy texture. I added some fresh rosemary from the garden to the dough and allowed it to rest in the fridge for 4 hours. Next time, I will make it a day ahead so that the flavor has sufficient time to fully develop. Despite the shorter resting period we were not disappointed, as the crust was indeed superb. It has a crispy exterior with a slightly chewy inside. The rosemary provided even greater flavor to the crust. Ro-Jiro was very grateful and so was Ro-Taro and Ro-Ri San. It was definitely worth the effort and the heat! I have a feeling I will be making more pizzas in the future.
I made two 12-inch pizzas with the dough. I used a red sauce for one and just garlic olive oil for the other. I actually prefer the one with the garlic olive oil.
INGREDIENTS
- 3¼ cups all-purpose flour (490g)
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp active dry yeast
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1¼ cup water (about 110°F/43°C) (300ml)
Sauce
- Tomato paste
- Extra virgin olive oil
Toppings
- Pepperoni
- Sweet bell peppers (sliced)
- Artichokes in oil (sliced)
- Black olives (sliced)
- Spinach
- Basil leaves
- Onions (sliced)
- Garlic (minced)
- Mozzarella cheese Shredded
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine all-purpose flour, rosemary, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Pour in olive oil and water. Mix with a spatula and lightly knead until dough comes together into a soft, smooth ball. Do not over knead. If dough is too wet, add additional flour.
- Cover and let dough rise for 45 minutes in a warm place. Then refrigerate for 4 hours (or up to 36 hours) so that crust will develop flavor.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Divide dough in half. Roll out a portion of dough into a 12-inch round. Prick dough all round with a fork and place dough on a pizza pan.
- Spread tomato paste or olive oil on the top. Sprinkle toppings and cheese as desired. Repeat with the other half of dough.
- Bake pizza at the lowest rack for 16 to 18 minutes.
NUTRITION
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Oo, crispy outside, yum!! I'm confident to eat up the whole 😉
Homemade pizza is so much fun! I don't make it often enough either, but really should! It saves money, and you can put anything you want on it 🙂 mmmm
Hi Biren, I am a big King Arthur's fan too! I will have to try this pizza crust recipe. The toppings on your homemade pizza are wonderful and I think everything you make in your own kitchen is better than eating out, except for the dishes, lol;-)
Your pizza looks beautiful and yummy. I'm the lazy one, always buy frozen pizza dough and let boys do the topping 🙂
Homemade pizza is awesome! Love the rosemary in the crust!
Makes me feel hungry…very tempting clicks with nice presentation…:)
Once I made pizza bas at home but that was not a success…After that I make pizza at home but always with the insant pizza dough…..will try again…bookmarking the recipe…
Pizza is one of my absolute favorite comfort foods. Hubby doesn't like it as much, which is fine with me cause everytime I have pizza, I know I don't have to share with him…teehee. Love that you used Rosemary in your crust. Your toppings sound divine, and your pizza is browned perfectly. Oh food blogging makes me so hungry 😛
Lovely home made pizza..i too like to add herbs in my crust.
First time here..i must say you have an awesome space with a very nice recipe collection.
will be visiting often.
do drop by my space sometime 🙂
aipi http://usmasala.blogspot.com/
Your pizza looks perfect and I love the toppings you chose! That crust is really calling my name.
I am imaging the heat from the oven and the 3-digit temp outside 🙁
Usually I just use a dough-bread base as my pizza base.
Hey Biren, I can tell from your pics that this was a really great crust-nice! So you bake pizza at 450? It doesn't burn or anything. I like the idea of this as long as there is no burn problem, as sometimes I feel the middle of a pizza gets soggy if the temp isn't high enough in the oven. Have you ever noticed that?
Anyway, this looks so yummy!
The original recipe at King Arthur's specified a 500F temperature but I was afraid my pans and oven would melt…lol! They also said to use a stone and all that stuff. I do not have a stone and I find it all too fussy. I decided to put the rack at the lowest position, reduce the heat and give it a try. It turned out wonderfully. I timed it for 15 minutes but I prefer it a little more brown and so 16 to 18 minutes was just right. There was no problem and the middle was cooked just right. Will definitely make it again 🙂
That's a beautiful pizza Biren! I love that you added herbs into the crust, yum! King Arthur has some truly delicious recipes and now you've got me craving pizza.
Dear Biren – I love that you put rosenary in the crust. – what a great idea! And I LOVE your toppings. Soulful food at its best 🙂
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Pizza has to be one of the most popular comfort foods of all – it's one of my favourites 🙂 Your pizza is lovely – the crust looks perfect and a high starting temperature for bread baking is absolutely right…
I recently made 2 pizza for dinner 2 nights in a row lol! they were delicious and the boys have been asking for more….but one can only eat so much pizza, I leave it for a while lol! Your pizza looks very delicious, will add some herbs like u did the next time I am in the mood for pizza:D Thanks for sharing.
Great looking pizzas. I like that you added rosemary, one of my favorite herbs. Red sauce and garlic and olive oil they both awesome.
Sounds like you will be making more pizza from now on.
Wow…this looks like better than store bought. I'm so tempted to try too. I think I have too many dishes that I want to learn…haha. Must take one step at a time. Will make pizza one of these days 😀
your pizza looks so good! I think with the outrageous cost of pizza, it is really something we should make all the time., it looks like you got a winning recipe. I will have to try it soon!
I love this pizza! Looks terrific with all the greens!
I always make pizza at home. My recipe is slightly diferent to yours. I'll try out your recipe next time as your pizza looks so delicious.
Your pizza looks so much better than those from Pizza Hut! So much filling, must be yummy!
He is one lucky lad. Your pizza looks wonderful. I hope you are having a great – and cool – day. Blessings…Mary
So pretty! And the crust sounds divine!
I make my own pizzas all the time Biren, even during the summer. These look delicious – love your toppings!
My dad has always made his own pizza and so I've never really been a store-bought pizza kind of girl. I love the rosemary addition to the dough! Need to try that.
Reeni, I think I will have to make it again real soon as the boys are asking for me to make it again. They never get tired of pizza. Good thing it is a little cooler now 🙂
Oh…you are one fortunate girl! Homemade pizza is really the best. It is actually quite simple to make too.
i never made my own pizza, but now i am hungry and want to eat pizza now
Fantastic looking pizza, and your dough looks perfect!