Explorers Thin Crust Pizza Recipes

Steps:

• Layer pizza in this order:.
• Tomatoe sauce.
• Cheese.
• Pepperoni.
• Eggplant skinned, and grilled, cut into strips.
• Mushrooms.
• Onions.
• Optional jalapeno peppers chopped fine.
• Basil, salt and pepper.
• Olive oil (drizzled over pizza).
• Cook at 450 for 8 minutes.

Steps:

• Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls; wrap one ball in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
• Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 500˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Working on a lightly floured surface, cut the other ball of dough in half. Cup your hand around each piece and gently roll each into a small ball. Transfer 1 ball of dough to a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and roll into a thin 12-inch round with a rolling pin (keep the other ball of dough covered; this recipe makes 2 thin-crust pizzas). Top the dough with 1/4 cup pizza sauce and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, going all the way to the edge.
• Transfer the pizza (on the parchment) to the hot stone and bake until the crust is set, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with 1 1/4 cups grated mozzarella, going all the way to the edge. Return the pizza to the stone, then slide out the parchment from under it. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Repeat to make another pizza.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the milk, water, yeast and sugar. Lightly whisk and let sit until bubbly and the yeast is bloomed, about 5 minutes. Add the oil.
• Mix the all-purpose flour and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Set the mixer to medium-low speed and slowly add the yeast mixture until entirely incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl to get everything homogenous. Knead on medium low until the dough is glossy and forms a rough ball, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set it in a warm part of the kitchen until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Split the dough into 2 balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll one of the balls of dough as THIN as possible with a rolling pin. To get an even "trimmed" circle, use a large round lid to trim a rim around the dough. Sprinkle some semolina flour on a pizza peel. Carefully transfer the round of dough to the peel. Dock the crust with a fork or docker, poking holes all over the surface to keep it thin and crispy.
• Working quickly, add half of the pizza sauce almost all of the way to the edge of the crust, leaving about a 1-inch border. For the pepperoni side, place an even layer of pepperoni directly on top of the sauce on half of the pizza. Combine the skim- and whole-milk mozzarella in a large bowl and top the entire pizza with half of the cheese. Top the pepperoni side with some more scattered rounds of pepperoni. For the sausage side, spread half of the giardiniera on top of the cheese, then dollop with hunks of the Italian sausage on top. Transfer to the pizza stone in the oven and bake until golden and bubbly, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board with the pizza peel. Make another pizza with the remaining ingredients.
• Let the pizza rest for 4 or 5 minutes, then cut into small squares--never triangles. This is called the party cut. Why? Because no matter what's going on, when you're eating Chicago thin crust, it's always a big ol' party.

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in hot water in a bowl. Let stand until yeast forms a creamy foam, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Mix 1 3/4 cup flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour in yeast mixture; mix well until dough comes together.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth, adding remaining 1/4 cup flour if dough is too sticky, about 2 minutes. Roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a greased pizza pan.

Steps:

• Place flours, yeast and salt in a food processor; pulse until blended. Add honey. While processing, gradually add water until a ball forms. Continue processing 60 seconds to knead dough., Turn dough onto floured surface; shape into a ball. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into quarters. Use immediately or securely wrap and freeze for later use. Freeze option:Wrap each portion of dough in plastic wrap and place in resealable freezer bags; freeze up to 1 month. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Proceed as directed.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third lined with a pizza stone or baking sheet. Divide dough in half. On a piece of parchment dusted with semolina, roll one piece of dough into an approximately 9-by-15-inch oval. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer on parchment to a baking sheet or pizza peel. Spread half of alfredo sauce over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third lined with a pizza stone or baking sheet. Divide dough in half. On a piece of parchment dusted with semolina, roll one piece of dough into an approximately 9-by-15-inch oval. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer on parchment to a baking sheet or pizza peel. Spread half of alfredo sauce over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
• Ricotta-Peas-Prosciutto: Dollop half of ricotta, in small spoonfuls, evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top evenly with half of peas and lightly drizzle with oil. Slide pizza (still on parchment) onto stone. Bake until crust is golden brown in places and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a board; top with half of prosciutto or arugula, if using. Slice and serve. Repeat with remaining dough and toppings.
• Spinach-Parmigiano-Pepper Flakes: Top evenly with half of spinach, cheese, and pepper flakes; lightly drizzle with oil. Slide pizza (still on parchment) onto stone. Bake until crust is golden brown in places and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a board; top with half of prosciutto or arugula, if using. Slice and serve. Repeat with remaining dough and toppings.
• Potato-Red Onion-Arugula: Top evenly with half of potatoes, then half of onion and cheese. Slide pizza (still on parchment) onto stone. Bake until crust is golden brown in places and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a board; top with half of prosciutto or arugula, if using. Slice and serve. Repeat with remaining dough and toppings.