How to Make Pizza from Scratch Kind-Of by Mike Bozzelli

How to Make Pizza from Scratch Kind-Of by Mike Bozzelli


Pizza is a beloved dish enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures. If we did not sincerely believe this we would not have opened a chain of pizza shops serving the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC communities. Whether you prefer a classic Margarita or Macaroni and Cheese Pizza (we call ours the MicMac), making pizza at home can be a fun and rewarding experience. In this step-by-step recipe, we will show you how to make a delicious homemade pizza from scratch with store-bought dough. 


Ingredients:


  • Pizza dough ball, ounces will vary and that's just fine (store-bought)

  • Pizza sauce, just a dab or smother (homemade or store-bought)

  • Shredded Mozzarella cheese, use enough but not too much so you can still see the sauce

  • Toppings (e.g. pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, olives, etc.)

  • Cornmeal or flour (for dusting so that the dough does not stick to your baking sheet)


Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Remove the store-bought dough from the package and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.

  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a circle or rectangle of your desired size. If you prefer a thicker crust, leave the dough slightly thicker. For a thinner crust, roll the dough out to a thinner consistency.

  4. Sprinkle cornmeal or flour on a baking sheet or pizza stone to prevent the dough from sticking.

  5. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edge.

  6. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the pizza sauce, covering the sauce entirely.

  7. Add your toppings of choice on top of the cheese. Be careful not to overload the pizza with toppings, as this can prevent it from cooking evenly.  Also the essence of all Italian cooking is simplicity.  This is where the “Less Is More” principle seriously applies.  

  8. Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.  Unfortunately at the temperature your pizza is going to produce a dry crust akin to frozen pizza.  There is a way to up the temperature and if you are seriously interested send us an email at bozzellideli@gmail.com.  

  9. Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.  Let the pizza cool on a wire rack so that the steam does not over moisten the base of the crust for a couple of minutes.

  10.  Order Online at Bozzellideli.com if this is just too much work.  We love taking orders!