Here’s a simple recipe to make a delicious cheese pizza from scratch:

Ingredients:

For the Pizza Dough:

  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 ½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Pizza Sauce:

  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Toppings:

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Extra olive oil for brushing (optional)
  • Fresh basil (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Make the Pizza Dough:

  1. In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir until the dough starts to come together.
  3. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 7-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.

2. Prepare the Sauce:

  1. In a bowl, mix together the tomato sauce, olive oil, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.

3. Assemble the Pizza:

  1. Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven while preheating.
  2. Punch down the dough and divide it into two equal portions (this recipe makes two 12-inch pizzas).
  3. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness.
  4. Transfer the rolled dough onto a pizza peel or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Spread a thin layer of sauce over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
  6. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top.

4. Bake the Pizza:

  1. If using a pizza stone, carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated stone. Otherwise, place the baking sheet in the oven.
  2. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

5. Serve:

  1. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
  2. Optionally, brush the crust with olive oil and garnish with fresh basil before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your homemade cheese pizza!

Image from Wikipedia