People are very particular about their pizza likes and dislikes, especially once the discussion veers to the subject of authenticity–so I'm not even going to claim that this recipe makes for an authentic Brooklyn style pizza. Without a brick oven, how could it?
Still, if you want to make the quintessential local meal for yourself and friends (by throwing a pizza party) this is the easiest way to go about it. Just be sure to have a pizza stone to ensure even crispness
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup warm water (between 95? and 115? F.)
2 T yeast
2 T honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
Pour in warm water.
The water should be about 85 to 115? F.
Test it with your hand. It should feel very warm, but comfortable.
Add the honey and salt.
Mix on low for about 20 seconds.
Add the yeast and mix on low for another 5 seconds.
Add 1 cup of flour, mix on low for 10 seconds.
Add the olive oil and mix until blended (about 15 or 20 seconds more).
Add the rest of the flour (and any other additions) and mix on high for about a minute or two. The dough should turn into a ball and roll around the processor. If the dough does not ball up because it's too dry, add water one tablespoon at a time until it does. If your mixture is more like a batter, add flour one tablespoon at a time. Adding water or flour as needed to get the right consistency will assure you always get a perfect dough. Just remember to do it in small amounts.
Once the dough is balled up, place the ball on a floured board and knead for about a minute. This builds the gluten which helps the dough to rise and become fluffy when cooked. Place the dough in a plastic grocery bag or a covered bowl and store in a warm, dry area to rise.
After about 45 minutes the dough should have about doubled in size. Show it who's the boss and punch it down. That's right, give it a good smack so it deflates. Let it rise for another hour to an hour and a half.
We recently topped ours with “Exquisite” Pizza Sauce, a recipe that requires many spices and ingredients and has a rich, tangy, bold flavor. It was truly worthy of its name. We also added fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, red onions, and a bit of garlic sausage, but you can use anything you please.
But what do you think?