General Pizza tips & Quick Questions

squeaky

Some people freeze them all prepared, some freeze the dough flat, others just freeze it in a ball.

I use the latter method. Easier to store - and I might not fancy the topping I chose when I first froze it!

Pooky

I never pre cook mine - I picked up a couple of cheapie pizza trays in sainsburys about a year ago - they were value ones at 97p each - they've not buckled or dented at all.....they are wonderful - I've got 3 now - 2 for pizza's one for garlic pizza bread - handy when you're entertaining - especially when they are that cheap.

larmy16

The pizza was not so great. First of all, I think I needed 1/2 the dough as it puffed up quite a lot (rather chewy). Also my toppings were a bit tasteless! The dough tasted fine apart from being too big! I would really appreciate any suggestions on making a nice tomatoey base and what herbs to use. I used some oregano but maybe not enough.

I am pleased with the effort but a bit disappointed with the result

Morrisons have some cheapie pizza trays, so I shall get a couple next time I go there.

apprentice_tycoon

If I'm in a hurry I use Dolmio pasta sauce as a pizza sauce, I add plenty of herbs with all the other bits and pieces

BWZN93

I just use a combo of garlic, oregano, and tomato puree on my bases, followed by a healthy topping of cheese (both red leics and Mozzarella), bacon, mushrooms, and onion - Delish!

Jo xx

honey

jw1096 - do you use just ordinary bread dough as a base???

Thanks in advance

Swattie

If you have children that don't like bits in the tomato base on Pizza, Heinz do a smooth base that's more to childrens taste (but probably has all the goodness processed out of it) - available from Tescos etc

BWZN93

honey wrote:

jw1096 - do you use just ordinary bread dough as a base???

Thanks in advance

I dont have a breadmaker, so it is made by hand - my recipe isnt bread dough as such:

3Tbsp Oil (olive, veg, whatever - I generally use 2 olive, 1 sunflower)
400g Flour (ive found regular plain flour to be fine)
1 tsp Salt
1 sachet yeast, mixed with around 1/4 pint warm water.

I bung all the dry ingredients in a bowl and add the warm water slowly, and just keep mixing. It might (probably will!) need a bit more water, I just keep pouring in real slow until I have a dryish lump that holds together well. I then put it on a floured surface and give it a good old knead for a few minutes, until its thorougly together. I put it inside a (very lightly) oiled bowl and cover with clingfilm, and put in a warm place for an hour or until risen. After that, I give it a quick knead and then roll it out on floured surface (dry semolina is also useful with the flour as I widen it by hand and this stops sticking to the surface!) - I do it quite thinly as I dont like soggy pizza, nor do I like more base than toppings!!

After that, I put it on a baking tray (ive got a very useful round pizza one) and then put on tomato puree, crushed garlic and a light oregano dusting, then toppings, and stick in the oven until the base is crispy and the toppings are melty!

Yum!

Jo xx

squeaky

larmy16 wrote:

The pizza was not so great. First of all, I think I needed 1/2 the dough as it puffed up quite a lot (rather chewy). Also my toppings were a bit tasteless! The dough tasted fine apart from being too big! I would really appreciate any suggestions on making a nice tomatoey base and what herbs to use. I used some oregano but maybe not enough.

I am pleased with the effort but a bit disappointed with the result

Morrisons have some cheapie pizza trays, so I shall get a couple next time I go there.

Yeah, my breadmaker makes enough for two pizzas.

My tomato base is usually:-

Some tomato puree

Some tomato ketchup

Some crushed garlic or garlic salt

Tbsp mixed herbs - or a dash each of tarragon, oregano and the like

Salt

Optional - small tiny little dash of tobasco

Pooky

I normally use passata with a squirt of puree to thicken slightly, what ever herbs take my fancy. Top with chopped peppers, onions, pepperoni (if i've got some) - ham and pineapple, tuna and sweetcorn and loads of cheese on top.

I make the pizza dough recipe in my MR book and I can make 2 decent puffy pizzas or 2 pizza's and a garlic bread.