Famous California Pizza Dough
Description
Whether rolled out thin or kept thick, Chef John shows us that Wolfgang Puck's California pizza dough recipe is always a hit.
Ingredients
•
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
•
1 teaspoon honey
•
1 cup Water, municipal
•
1 teaspoon kosher salt
•
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
•
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
•
1/4 cup cornmeal, or as needed
Directions
1
Combine yeast, honey, and 1/4 cup warm water in a large bowl with a whisk. Let stand to dissolve, about 10 minutes.
2
Add salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and 1 cup flour to the mixture and stir until a batter forms. Add another 1 cup flour; stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup more flour and combine.
3
Turn dough out onto a surface dusted with 1/4 cup flour. Knead until a smooth, fairly firm, slightly sticky dough is achieved, adding more flour as needed.
4
Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, 30 to 40 minutes.
5
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board and pat down with your hand. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Stretch and fold each piece down and under, tucking as you go, to form pizza dough rounds.
6
Cover with a towel and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes.
7
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Dust a baking sheet with cornmeal.
8
Transfer dough rounds to a lightly floured board and press each piece out to desired thickness, starting in the center, until 8 to 10 inches wide. Form a crust shape around the outer edges with your fingertips.
9
Transfer one round of pizza dough to the prepared baking sheet and brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Top with any sauce and toppings you like.
10
Bake in the lower rack of the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Move to the center of the oven and continue to bake until golden, about 10 minutes more. Repeat to bake remaining pizzas.