Question

Is pizza dough hard to make and if you make a mess of it, what else can you make that’s easy?

Answer 1

Making pizza dough from scratch can be relatively simple, but it does require some time and effort. The basic ingredients for pizza dough are flour, water, yeast, salt, and optionally olive oil. Here's a simple recipe for a classic pizza dough:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix the warm water with the yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. If you're using olive oil, add it to the yeast mixture.
3. Gradually pour the yeast mixture into the flour while stirring. Mix until the dough comes together.
4. Flour a clean surface and transfer the dough onto it. Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5. Form the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise for about 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
6. After rising, you can divide the dough into smaller portions and shape them into pizza rounds. Add your favorite toppings and bake the pizzas in a preheated oven at 450°F (230°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

While pizza dough is versatile and can be made into various other bread-based dishes like calzones or stromboli, if you find yourself with a messy or unsuccessful dough, you can try making a simpler alternative like "Flatbread" or "Focaccia."

Flatbread: Flatbread is a basic bread that can be made without yeast. Here's a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil (or melted butter)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
2. Gradually add warm water and olive oil (or melted butter) to the dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead the dough for a few minutes until it becomes smooth.
4. Divide the dough into smaller portions and roll them out into thin rounds.
5. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and cook the flatbreads for about 1-2 minutes on each side until they puff up and get some golden-brown spots.

Focaccia: Focaccia is a flavorful Italian bread that is easy to make and allows for various toppings and seasonings.

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano, etc.)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
2. Stir in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the salt.
3. Gradually add the flour and mix until the dough comes together.
4. Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise for about 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
6. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
7. Punch down the dough and transfer it to a greased baking sheet.
8. Press the dough into a rectangular shape on the baking sheet.
9. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the dough and sprinkle dried herbs on top.
10. Bake the focaccia for 20-25 minutes until it turns golden brown.

Both the flatbread and focaccia are delicious and much simpler to make than pizza dough, making them great alternatives if you encounter difficulties with the pizza dough or simply want to try something different.