Pizza is a favourite in most households now and if you have kids, how can you stay away from pizza but at my place not just the kids but I too love pizza the only difference is that I love it with all the toppings available whereas the kids prefer it only with cheese or a little bit of sweet corn.
I've used part whole wheat along with all purpose flour(maida) for making these pizza bases but you can use full maida too if you wish too but I can assure you that the ones with wheat flour turn out equally tasty and will be gobbled up in no time.
The most important part while making a pizza base is activating the yeast, if you get that right your pizza base is going to turn out perfect.These pizza bases can be made in advance and stored upto a week in your fridge and upto a month in the freezer. Just cling wrap them nicely and store them in a container and thaw them before use.
The best part of making a pizza base at home is that you can make it in various sizes. I sometimes make bite sized ones for the kids or if I have a get together coming up at home, when I'm not in a mood to roll and shape them individually, I bake one large pizza base and bake it with one half having the toppings of kids choice and the other half with our favourites.
INGREDIENTS
4 cups whole wheat flour (aata)
2 cups all purpose flour (maida)
1 cup water ( you can add more later as required)
2 tea spoons instant yeast
1 tea spoon sugar
1 tea spoon salt
2 table spoons olive oil
METHOD
Let us start with the most important part which is activating the yeast. Though I'm using instant yeast here which can be added directly to the flour and does not require activating but just to be doubly sure that my yeast is perfect I activate it every time so that all my energy that goes into kneading the dough does not go waste.
1. To activate the yeast take the one cup water mentioned in the recipe, the water should be warm, too hot and it will kill the yeast and if it is cold the yeast will not get activated. Add sugar to the water, mix. Now add the yeast, mix it with a spoon and keep it covered in a warm place for 10-15 minutes or till it becomes frothy.
2. In a bowl take the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour and salt. Lightly mix it with a fork or spoon.
3. Once your yeast is frothy, add the yeast mix to the flour mixture and start mixing.
4. Once the dough comes together, take it out on a flat surface or your kitchen slab and start kneading. Add water as required. The dough is going to be sticky but do not add more flour.
5. Knead the dough really well for about 10 minutes or till the time you get a smooth and shiny dough.
6. Add the olive oil to it and knead again for about 2 minutes.
7. Grease a large bowl with olive oil. Shape the dough into a ball and place it covered in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours or till the time it doubles itself.
8. Once the dough is double in size, knock it down with your hands or punch it down. Divide the dough into small balls as per your requirement.
9. Apply some dry flour to the surface where you want to roll the dough. Roll it in a circle or whichever shape you prefer. If you want a perfect round just take a big lid from one of your containers and get an even circle.
10. Prick the rolled dough all over with a fork.
11. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and bake the pizza bases for 5 to 7 minutes. Once done, place them on wire rack and let them cool completely.
12. You can cling wrap them and store them in your fridge or freezer or else just apply a bit of pizza sauce and toppings of your choice. Grate mozzarella cheese on top, bake again in a preheated oven for 4 to 5 minutes depending upon how crispy you want it to be or till the cheese melts. Relish your home made pizza 😊
PICTORIAL GUIDE
1. To activate the yeast take the one cup water mentioned in the recipe, the water should be warm, too hot and it will kill the yeast and if it is cold the yeast will not get activated. Add sugar to the water, mix. Now add the yeast, mix it with a spoon and keep it covered in a warm place for 10-15 minutes or till it becomes frothy.
SUGAR
2. In a bowl take the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour and salt. Lightly mix it with a fork or spoon.
3. Once your yeast is frothy, add the yeast mix to the flour mixture and start mixing.
4. Once the dough comes together, take it out on a flat surface or your kitchen slab and start kneading. Add water as required. The dough is going to be sticky but do not add more flour.
5. Knead the dough really well for about 10-12 minutes or till the time you get a smooth and shiny dough.
6. Add the olive oil to it and knead again for about 2 minutes.
7. Grease a large bowl with olive oil. Shape the dough into a ball and place it covered in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours or till the time it doubles itself.
9. Apply some dry flour to the surface where you want to roll the dough. Roll it in a circle or whichever shape you prefer. If you want a perfect round just take a big lid from one of your containers and get an even circle.
10. Prick the rolled dough all over with a fork.
11. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and bake the pizza bases for 5 to 7 minutes. Once done, place them on wire rack and let them cool completely.
HAPPY BAKING!! 😊
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