Basic Pizza Dough

Total Time: 2 hr 10 min Prep: 2 hr 10 min

Yield: two 1-pound dough balls Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sugar


• 1 1/4 -ounce packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast


• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing


• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting


• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Directions

Whisk 1 1/3 cups warm water (105 degrees F) and the sugar in a bowl; sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the olive oil.

Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Gradually stir with a wooden spoon to make a rough dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes, dusting with more flour if necessary. Form into 2 balls. Brush 2 large bowls with olive oil, add a ball of dough to each and turn to coat with the oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Roll out and top as desired, or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 month.

Photograph by Con Poulos