Herb pizza dough: best recipes for pizza night

Recently, the number of different recipes for pizza dough has increased. All of them are prepared simply and help to achieve a crispy crust.

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How to make the amazing dough: pizza recipe

As you know, the pizza must have a delicious crust. Therefore, herb pizza dough helps achieve this. To get a delicious crust, you can use several secrets. The first method is to leave the dough rise slowly. This makes the dough more complex in flavor.

It is better to leave the dough for the night. This achieves a cold fermentation process, and the dough is more tender.

The second option is that you need to choose the right proportions of flour and water. This results in a thick crust that has a nice texture.

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You can also make herb pizza dough. This achieves a more delicate texture. It only takes 10 minutes for the dough rise. After that, you can immediately start baking pizza. If you’ve invited friends over for a pizza night, it’ll take no more than an hour to bake.

Ingredients for making a delicious pizza

To make herb pizza dough, you need a few basic ingredients. It is important to remember that each ingredient for pizza and its dough must be fresh and of high quality. It doesn’t matter if you are making a delicious dish for a small group of loved ones or a large group of friends – it is significant to carefully monitor the ingredients that you will add to the dough.

After all, this is the only way you can be sure that the dish will turn out beyond praise.

Bread flour

To make delicious herb pizza dough, you need to use bread flour. It is believed that it is bread flour that creates the necessary texture for the crust. However, as an alternative to bread flour, you can use all-purpose flour that you have at home. That’s just the crust because this will not be crispy, but soft.

Active dry yeast

You also need to prepare active dry yeast. If these were not found, the use of instant yeast is allowed. This allows the dough to rise faster.

Italian seasoning

When preparing the dough, you can add a little Italian seasoning. It consists of a mixture of aromatic herbs that everyone will definitely like. As an alternative to Italian seasoning, you can use 0.5 tablespoons of oregano and basil. They are the basis of Italian seasoning.

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Garlic powder

Chefs often add fresh garlic to herb pizza dough. However, it gives a too-rich taste. Therefore, it is better to use garlic powder. It is believed that garlic powder has a more delicate taste, and allows you to achieve the perfect taste of pizza.

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Water

If you make herb pizza dough, it’s best to use warm water. It is believed that using cold water will have a bad effect on the dish’s quality. Warm water activates the yeast in your homemade pizza. In the dough recipe, you need to add water, the temperature of which is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The step-by-step cooking process for the best pizza with herbs

Once all the ingredients for the dough recipe are ready, it is possible to start preparing the dough. It is important to follow all steps step-by-step and accurately to get an excellent result.

Mixing dry ingredients

If you decide to bake pizza and have already found the best dough recipe, then you need to knead the dough using a certain technology. When you decide to knead the dough, it’s best to start by mixing the dry ingredients.

Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. It is better to do this in a deep bowl. For the dough recipe to turn out to be correct and of high quality, it is better to mix the components with a spoon. Everything must be mixed evenly. This gives you the best taste.

Adding water and oil

When you knead your own pizza dough, then in the second stage of work you need to add water and oil. As already mentioned, only warm water is needed for herb dough. This ensures that the pizza rises correctly and evenly.

It is better to pour water and oil along the outer edge of the flour mixture. This promotes proper mixing. The liquid spreads over the surface of the flour mixture and does not form a puddle.

Quite often, cooks add olive oil to coat the yeast. It is believed that this way the yeast will not dry out from the added salt.

Dough kneading

After that, you can start kneading your own pizza dough. It is better to work with a mixer because this greatly facilitates the process. You need to attach a dough hook to a mixer that is powered by electricity. Then the device starts at low speed.

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If done correctly, the flour mixture pulls away from the sides of the mixing large bowl, and won’t stick to the dough hook. Once the herb pizza dough is ready, knead it for a few more minutes to achieve a softer texture. Thereafter, you need to leave the dough so that it is a little infused.

If you decide to apply the dough recipe, however, there was no mixer, you can do everything manually. To achieve a soft dough, pour the dry ingredients into the mixing bowl, and gradually introduce the liquid. Mix everything with a large spatula.

The procedure must be carried out until a ball of dough is formed. After that, you need to fold the dough ball on the table. It is better to floured surface. If the surface is well-floured surface, the dough does not stick.

It is believed that during the preparation of homemade pizza with herbs, everything should be kneaded correctly. Place a dough ball on a well-floured surface. Next, you need to fold half of one side of the dough ball onto the other, constantly turning it over.

To get the perfect homemade pizza with herbs, knead the dough for up to 5 minutes. The most important thing is that the dough should be elastic.

Waiting period

Pour some olive oil into the bottom of the mixing bowl. Place herb pizza dough there, then wipe all the walls with a dough ball. The dough must be completely covered with olive oil.

After the dough is greased with olive oil, you need to cover it with plastic wrap. If there is no plastic wrap at home, you can use a paper towel. The main thing is that it is clean.

Set the bowl of herb pizza dough in a warm place. You can preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and then turn it off. Place the mixing bowl inside the oven and close the doors.

This creates favorable conditions for the pizza dough to rise. You must wait for about an hour. After an hour, the dough increases in size, and you can start rolling.

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Some chefs prefer to put the pizza dough in the refrigerator and leave it overnight. You can also refrigerate the dough in a large bowl for up to 2 days. The longer the dough rises in the cold, the more complex the taste of the finished dish does turn out.

If you prefer to make homemade pizza quickly, leaving the dough at room temperature for about an hour or two is best. This is enough for the dough to rise, and you can proceed to the main stages of work.

Rolling out dough

The formed pizza dough must be divided into 2 equal parts. After you have to stretch the pizza crust. It is critical to remove all air bubbles from the pizza crust so that the crust is dense and rigid.

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  • If you prefer thin pizza with herbs, forming dough forms about 9 inches in diameter is best.
  • If you prefer a thick crust, 7-inch dough forms are best.
  • If you’re making herb pizza for a large group, it’s best not to split the pizza dough and use the entire pizza dough.

After that, you need to stretch it to get the 14-inch dough forms. For ease of work, it is better to sprinkle floured surface so that the 14-inch pizza dough slides on it and does not stick.

How to roll out pizza dough?

The easiest way is to form an imaginary line, the width of which is equal to the width of the finger. This line should not be touched so that the crust is not damaged. Next, you need to make an imaginary line that goes down the center of the pizza dough. Make dimples with your hands and stretch the dough from the center to the crust.

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Flip the pizza crust over and repeat on the reverse side. This helps trap air bubbles so that the dough retains its texture. Once you can lightly touch the dough with your hands, spread it out with your palms.

You can stretch the crust with your palms, or spread it in the air with your fists. The last option is optimal for professionals. If you notice that there are breaks in the pizza dough, you need to pinch them a little. In the center, the dough should have a thin slice, not a transparent one.

It’s easiest to work on top of a marble slab that’s meant for pizza. After that, it is possible to transfer the cake to a pizza stone. If the shape of the pizza is not perfectly flat, do not worry. It does not affect the taste.

Pizza baking

For a crispy crust, it is best to place the crust on top of a preheated pizza stone. To preheat the stone, place it in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit and let it sit for about an hour.

If the pizza stone easily withstands high temperatures, you can leave it at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. If you often cook pizza, then a stone should definitely be in the kitchen. If you have a preheated pizza stone, take your time placing the dough on it.

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First, the pizza is placed on top of a special mat. Only then it can be laid on the pizza stone. You can dust the baking mats with a little cornmeal. This makes it easier to transfer the dough circle into the pizza stone.

After that, you can add the desired toppings. Most often, chefs use a versatile herb pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. However, most people definitely like a recipe that uses Parmesan cheese.

If you use a sheet for baking pizza with herbs, then you can refuse the baking mats. You can place the pizza crust directly on the baking sheet. After you can start laying the filling. The main thing is that the filling should be a thin layer. Otherwise, the pizza dough will tear.

A pizza stone significantly speeds up the baking process when compared with a baking sheet. If you decide to cook pizza on a baking sheet, then you should increase the baking time by 2-3 minutes.

What is the best topping for vegan pizza?

If you make homemade pizza without using sausage or meat, there are a few ingredients that can help make it hearty and delicious. You can use tomato sauce. You should not choose very spicy sauces.

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Furthermore, you also need vegan cheese. Fortunately, today there is a large selection of such products on the market, so finding the best option is not difficult. Mushrooms, which are thinly sliced, can be used as the main component. Chopped onion is also often added, which is better to marinate in advance.

Some cooks try to add fresh spinach and basil. You can add a little salt and pepper to make the pizza taste and aroma pleasant. When you cook homemade pizza, you should not overload it with toppings. Otherwise, the cake is soft, and you cannot achieve a golden crust.

At what temperature should pizza be baked?

If you cook pizza in your home oven, keep the temperature around 425-450 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also place the pizza stone to warm up while you roll out the dough.

If you are baking pizza with herbs for about 10 minutes, then 5 minutes after placing the dough dish in the oven, you should turn it 180 degrees. This achieves an even crispy crust. Cooking pizza is recommended in the center of the oven.

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It is better to put another baking sheet or pizza stone on top. This achieves a golden brown. However, it will not be too crunchy. If you are planning to bake a 16-inch pizza and want to achieve a thick crust, it will take about 15-20 minutes to bake.

You can also use the prepared dough to form two 8-inch pizzas. Keep in mind that ovens may differ from each other. Therefore, you need to constantly monitor the process of making pizza. As soon as the edges become crispy, the pizza can be removed.

Next, you can cut the cooked pizza with herbs into the desired number of servings, and serve.

Freezing the dough

Quite often, people do not use all the dough they have made, so they think about freezing pizza dough. Allow the pizza dough to rise before freezing. After that, you have to grease the ball of dough with olive oil.

You can freeze pizza dough in special bags. First, they need to remove all the air. Seal the bags tightly and place the dough in the freezer. The dough can be frozen for 3-4 months. If you decide to freeze the dough, you have to defrost it properly.

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It is best to take it out of the freezer the day before you prepare pizza. Place the dough in the refrigerator and wait 10-12 hours. Half an hour before baking, remove the dough from the refrigerator, start shaping the pizza, and apply the topping.

Is it possible to stop using herbs?

If you wish, you can refuse to use herbs. They are designed to give the pizza a rich flavor. The structure of the dough from the addition of herbs does not change. If you refuse to use herbs, it is better to increase the amount of salt. The remaining components are taken in the same amount.

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What can I do to keep the pizza from sticking to the stone?

To keep the pizza from sticking to the stone, it is better to use a porous pizza stone. If there is only a non-porous pizza stone, then the baking sheet needs to be greased with a small amount of olive oil.

When using a porous stone, it is best to sprinkle it with a little cornmeal. This helps prevent sticking. You can also avoid sticking by preheating the oven.

FAQ

When it comes to pizza dough, there are plenty of questions. Below, I will answer the most popular ones.

Can you put herbs in the dough?

You can add some herbs to the dough. This makes the baking more flavorful. The use of basil and rosemary are allowed. Some cooks prefer to use poppy seeds, cloves, and nutmeg. The choice depends on your preferences only.

What herb is best for a pizza base?

You can use basil, oregano, and parsley as a base for pizza dough. You can also experiment with creating your own unique herbal blends.

What can I add to pizza dough for flavor?

You can add butter, Parmesan cheese, and salt to your dough to make it more flavorful. Some cooks try to use garlic powder and parsley. Believe me, even a small amount of flavoring can change the taste of pizza for the better.

Should you season your pizza dough?

Seasoning the dough is optional. However, if you want to show all the guests that you have excellent culinary skills, feel free to season the pizza dough. Believe me, it is only a benefit from this.

Results

As you can see, making pizza with herbs is quite simple. The process is almost the same as when you cook a regular pizza. The main thing is to choose the right herbs, and add them in small quantities. Otherwise, you run the risk of interrupting the taste of the filling.

I hope that the suggested dough recipes and my tips will help you make great pastries. If you require any further assistance, I will be happy to answer them in the comments. Your clarifications and interesting recipes will also be of interest to me and my readers. Read also: Refreshing herb juice recipes for a healthy lifestyle

Elizabeth Martin

I am one of the best chefs and I work in a very famous Washington DC restaurant. My main hobby is to complement different dishes with fresh herbs. Almost all of them are grown in my house.

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