Pizza Pie

The most well-known Italian dish, beloved by children and adults alike, pizza has earned its spot as an American staple. Whether enjoyed with sausage, veggies, cheese, or without, pizza has something for everyone to enjoy. With help from The Il Fornaio Baking Book by Franco Galli I tried my hand at making the world-famous dish and had mixed results.

The well with oil. 

The dough before rising 

The first step of making pizza is to form the crust. I started by mounding the 2 cups of flour onto the counter top. By pushing the flour out, I formed a little bowl also called a “well”, where I poured the oil. Then I quickly mixed warm water and dry yeast together and waited till the mixture was creamy. Then I added the yeast mixture and salt to the oil in the flour well. Next, Galli recommends, “working from the center outward, with one hand gradually pull the sides of the well into the center until all the flour is incorporated,” (Galli 99). Now my family will easily tell you that I’m not the most graceful swan in the pond, so when I started mixing the flour into the mixture I broke the flour wall so the liquid began to flow freely all over the counter top. Reacting quickly, I tried to stop the flow with one hand while mixing in the flour with my other hand. Slowly the dough began to form, it was drier than the recipe indicated it would be so I added some more water and oil until it had a workable consistency. Once I kneaded dough together I let it rise for one and a half hours.  

               While my dough was rising I set about making the marinara sauce. To start off I chopped up a tomato so I could easily puree it along with the basil. Once they were pureed together I seasoned the mix with salt and pepper before adding one clove of crushed garlic. I then set aside the sauce until I was ready to prepare the pizzas.

The pizza sauce 

               After the dough had risen for one and a half hours, I punched it down with my fingers and then let it rise again for half an hour. Then I shaped the dough into four individual pizzas each about six inches in diameter. Each family member got one pizza to cover with their favorite toppings cheese, pepperoni, sausage or mushrooms. I baked the pizzas for about 15 minutes before serving them to my family who were basically frothing at the mouth.

Pizzas ready to in the oven.

               My pizzas in no way compared to any authentic Italian pizza.  I had problems with the consistency of the crust and how they baked. If I ever try this recipe again, I would be more careful when combining the flour and liquids so that I don’t have the same problem with spilling. I think that would also help the consistency because I wouldn’t have to add more water and oil. I would also bake the pizzas on some paper, so they don’t stick to the pan. It’s very interesting to know all the work that goes into making delicious slices of pizza.

Hot pizzas fresh from the oven. 

               Have you ever made pizza? What’s your favorite place to get pizza? Let me know in the comments below.