The Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza Recipe: From Dough to Delicious

Are you ready to elevate your pizza night? Forget ordering takeout—this recipe will guide you through making an authentic, delicious pepperoni pizza from scratch. We’ll cover everything from creating the perfect dough to achieving that perfectly bubbly, cheesy crust. Get ready to impress your family and friends with a pizza that’s truly extraordinary.

Ingredients: The Foundation of Flavor

This recipe is broken down into three key sections: the dough, the sauce, and the toppings. Let's start with the building blocks of pizza perfection.

A. The Pizza Dough:

• 1 cup (240ml) warm water (105-115°F)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

B. The Pizza Sauce:

• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

C. The Toppings:

• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces pepperoni slices

Instructions: Crafting Your Culinary Masterpiece

Now, let’s transform these ingredients into a mouthwatering pizza.

1. Making the Dough:

• In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy. This indicates the yeast is active.
• Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.
• Add olive oil to the dough and knead for another minute to incorporate it.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

2. Preparing the Sauce:

• While the dough is rising, prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat, and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

3. Assembling and Baking the Pizza:

• Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). If you have a pizza stone, preheat it in the oven as well.

• Punch down the risen dough and divide it in half (for two 12-inch pizzas or one large one).

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out each dough half into a 12-inch circle or your desired shape.

• Transfer the dough to a pizza pan or pizza stone.

• Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.

• Sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.

• Arrange pepperoni slices over the cheese.

• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

• Remove from oven and let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Tips for Pizza Perfection:

• For a crispier crust: Preheat your pizza stone for at least 30 minutes.
• Don’t overload with toppings: Too many toppings can make the crust soggy.
• Experiment with cheeses: Try different types of cheese, such as provolone or Parmesan.
• Add your favorite vegetables: Onions, peppers, mushrooms—the possibilities are endless!

Enjoy your homemade pepperoni pizza! This recipe provides a fantastic base—feel free to experiment and customize it to your liking. Share your creations with us! Happy baking!