Garlic And Oregano Pizza Dough Recipes

NEAPOLITAN-STYLE PIZZA DOUGH WITH GARLIC AND ITALIAN SEASONINGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and yeast until thoroughly combined. Mix in ice water, scraping the bowl as you mix, until all the flour and water have been incorporated into a soft dough. Mix in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, and knead until the dough is firm but slightly sticky, mixing in more flour if needed. Knead the granulated garlic and Italian seasoning into the dough. (The kneading step can be done in a bread machine set on the Dough setting.)
• Form the dough into a round, and place into an oiled bowl. Brush the top with 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise until double, 1 to 2 hours. Punch down the dough, and cut in half. Form each half into a 12-inch pizza crust, and place on pizza pans.
• Move a rack to the bottom position in oven, and preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Bake the pizza crusts on the bottom rack just until firm, 3 to 7 minutes. Allow the crusts to cool for about 10 minutes before topping with sauce, cheese, or other desired ingredients and returning to oven to bake.

GARLIC AND OREGANO PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Mix yeast and water (follow directions on yeast packet for proper water temperature), and set aside for 5-7 minutes.
• Combine flour, salt, dried oregano, and powdered garlic in a large mixing bowl. Create a well in the middle of the mixture and add one half of the yeast/water mixture.
• Work the water/yeast mixture in by hand. Dough should be very crumbly, and not really hold together.
• Add olive oil and the rest of the water/yeast mixture, and continue to combine by hand until dough is soft and smooth.
• (Alternate, if using fresh oregano and garlic) Add to the above step, add in garlic and oregano, and combine by hand until dough is soft and smooth.
• Place dough on a flat surface and vigorously knead for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, using an electric mixer with a dough hook, let the mixer work the dough for about 7 minutes under low-medium setting.
• Put dough in a greased bowl (or a lightly oiled bowl), and make sure grease/oil covers the outside of the dough. Let rise for 45-60 minutes in a warm (80-90 degree) place.
• Once dough has risen (increased to about double in size), punch it down (about three firm punches to the dough's surface), knead for another 2-3 minutes, and allow to rise again, per the instructions above). Repeat this step for a total of three rises.
• After the dough has risen for the third time, separate into two pieces (or more, if smaller pizzas are desired).
• Roll pizzas out into 13-14 inch circles and top as desired.
• Bake in a 475 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until crust is crispy and golden brown. A baking stone is strongly recommended. If using a baking stone, lightly sprinkle with corn meal to prevent sticking.
• To parbake (half bake the dough, and save for later), follow the above baking directions, but only bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or freeze so they'll last longer.
• Alternative baking method - if your oven has the capability to do so, preheat oven and baking stone to 600 degrees. Adjust cooking time to 5-10 minutes, or until crust is crispy and golden brown. This method can also utilize bread flour, as it cooks at a high enough temperature to allow the bread flour to rise properly during cooking, yet not allow the glutens to break down during cooking and cause the dough to collapse, thus making for a soggy pizza. This is my preferred method, as it allows for a reduced cooking time and more of a "brick oven pizza" flavor and crispiness. It's also the preferable method to cook pizzas with more liquid ingredients, such as tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, etc.

PIZZA WITH GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• At least 45 minutes before baking pizza, put a pizza stone or 4 to 6 unglazed "quarry" tiles arranged close together on oven rack in lowest position in oven and preheat oven to highest setting (500°-550°F).
• Finely chop garlic and in a small bowl combine with oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and coarse salt.
• On a lightly floured surface pat out dough evenly with your fingers, keeping hands flat and lifting and turning dough over several times, into a 9-inch round. (Do not handle dough more than necessary. If dough is sticky, dust it lightly with flour.)
• Dust a baker's peel or rimless baking sheet with flour and carefully transfer dough to it. Jerk peel or baking sheet once or twice and, if dough is sticking, lift dough and sprinkle flour underneath it, reshaping dough if necessary. Working quickly, top dough with oil mixture, spreading with back of a spoon to within 1/2 inch of edge.
• Line up far edge of peel or baking sheet with far edge of stone or tiles and tilt peel or baking sheet, jerking it gently to start pizza moving. Once edge of pizza touches stone or tiles, carefully pull back peel or baking sheet, completely transferring pizza to stone or tiles (do not move pizza). Bake pizza 6 to 7 minutes, or until dough is crisp and browned, and transfer with a metal spatula to a cutting board.
• Cut pizza into wedges and serve immediately.