How to make a pizza base

A good pizza starts with a good pizza base.

For those of you who are keen it is worth the extra 15 minutes or so to make your own pizza base (less work if you have a bread maker). Otherwise buy the best plain pizza base you can afford (don't buy those ones that have a smear of something red on them - yuk).

This recipe will make 2 large pizzas or 6 small ones. I usually make the small ones.

Ingredients:

1 tsp dry yeast
475g bread flour (don't use plain flour the results will not be the same)
1 Tbsp milk powder
1 3/4 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
20ml virgin olive oil
350ml water

Method:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Make a well in the middle and mix the ingredients with your hands.
3. The dough will be soft and sticky
4. Tip the mix onto a floured bench and with floured hands knead until smooth
5. Place back into lightly oiled mixing bowl and cover with cling wrap.
6. Leave in a warm place for 30-40 minutes until doubled in size
7. Punch the air out of the dough and tip onto a floured bench and roll into a sausage about 25-30cm long
8. Cut either 6 or 2 equal pieces
9. Using bake paper place each piece on the bake paper and roll into a circle. Don't get to fussed, my circles are usually funny shapes. Adds to the fun.
10. Now you are ready to add your topping

If you have a bread machine: Just follow the instructions for your bread maker. I have a dough pizza feature on mine but you can use a dough program if you don't have a pizza one.

If you have a mixer with a dough hook: Only recommended if you have a Kitchenaid or Kenwood type mixer as they can handle the work. Use the mixer for steps 1 - 4.

If you are making the small bases and have extra/left overs just wrap the dough in balls in cling wrap, place in freezer bag, suck the air out and freeze. Instant pizza bases for another meal.