Growing up in a small town in New Jersey, I was spoiled with an abundance of independently owned pizza joints, all with amazing New Jersey-style pizza made from fresh pizza dough. It wasn’t until I moved to the West Coast that I realized just how much I took this abundance of good pizza for granted. I spent the next 10 years trying different pizza dough recipes and variations, trying to recreate the pizza of my childhood.
After countless attempts, I finally developed a pizza dough recipe that comes incredibly close to those beloved pizza joints back home. And I want to share it with you, so that you don’t have to struggle through and wait as long as I did to enjoy great pizza at home, no matter where you live.
Without further ado, here is my recipe for homemade thin crust pizza dough.
Ingredients
- 794 grams of all-purpose flour
- 495 grams of lukewarm water
- 2 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 teaspoon of bread machine yeast
- 3 teaspoons of olive oil
Instructions
- Weigh the flour and water on a digital scale.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix well.
- Add the water to the dry ingredients, and mix until a dough ball forms. This can be done by hand or by using a stand-up mixer.
- Once the pizza dough ball forms, add the olive oil and continue mixing until the olive oil is completely incorporated into the pizza dough.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface or
Kneading Mat, like thisone that I use, for 8 minutes, or mix in a stand-up mixer using a dough hook and a low speed for 8 minutes.
- Divide the dough ball into 6 equal size dough balls, roughly 225 grams a piece.
- Knead each individual pizza dough ball for 1 minute and place in a greased (I used non-stick spray) bowl or container. I use these
silicone dough containers. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes. - Place the dough in a refrigerator for at least 1 day, although I’ve found that 3 days allow the dough to develop the best flavor and texture.
- To cook, flatten the dough ball with your fingertips into a round shape, never use a roller. Rotate the pizza dough a quarter turn while stretching the outer edge by spreading your fingers apart. Repeat this until the dough is roughly 12 inches in diameter.
- Now, pick the dough up and place it over the top of your hands. Rotate the dough in circles while stretching the dough even more. I’m not brave enough to toss the dough in the air, but you do you! The crust should end up being thin enough for some light to pass through, but not so thin that it tears or looks like it would tear easily.
- Transfer the pizza dough onto a pizza screen. Top with sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Bake for 9 minutes at 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Enjoy your delicious homemade pizza with a thin, crispy crust!
In conclusion, homemade pizza is a wonderful way to enjoy a delicious and comforting meal with friends and family. Making pizza dough from scratch may seem daunting at first, but with a little practice and patience, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. And with this recipe, you can recreate that perfect thin crust pizza that you remember from your childhood, no matter where you are in the world.