Making a stuffed crust pizza is a delicious and rewarding culinary endeavor. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create your very own stuffed crust pizza:
Ingredients you'll need:
For the pizza dough:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the stuffed crust:
- 8-10 slices of mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on the crust
For the pizza sauce and toppings, you can use your favorite store-bought or homemade options.
Instructions:
Prepare the pizza dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. Add olive oil and salt to the yeast mixture. Gradually add flour and mix until the dough comes together.
Knead the dough: Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball.
First rise: Place the dough ball in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 1 to 1.5 hours or until it doubles in size.
Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to the highest temperature possible (usually around 475-500°F or 245-260°C).
Prepare the stuffed crust: Take the risen dough and roll it out into a circle or rectangle, depending on your pizza shape preference. Make sure it's slightly larger than your pizza pan or stone.
Add the cheese: Lay the mozzarella cheese slices around the edge of the rolled-out dough, leaving a small space at the edge to seal the crust later. Fold the edge of the dough over the cheese and press down to seal it in. Make sure there are no gaps for the cheese to leak during baking.
Crimp the crust: You can use a fork or your fingers to crimp and create a decorative edge for the stuffed crust.
Brush the crust: Mix melted butter and garlic powder together and brush it over the stuffed crust to add flavor.
Add sauce and toppings: Spread your favorite pizza sauce over the dough and add your desired toppings, such as pepperoni, vegetables, or cooked meats.
Bake: Carefully transfer the pizza to a preheated pizza stone or pizza pan and bake for approximately 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown, and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
Optional finishing touch: If you like, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the crust to add an extra layer of flavor.
Slice and enjoy: Once the pizza is done, remove it from the oven, let it cool for a minute, then slice it up and enjoy your homemade stuffed crust pizza!
Remember, you can get creative with the toppings and cheese fillings to suit your taste preferences. Enjoy your delicious creation!