Wolfgang Pucks Recipe For Pizza Dough

WOLFGANG PUCK'S PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and honey in 1/4 cup warm water; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour and salt. Add oil, yeast mixture, and remaining 3/4 cup warm water; mix on low speed until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a clean work surface, and knead by hand until dough is smooth and firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer dough to a large bowl, and cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel. Place bowl in a warm spot, and let rise for 30 minutes.
• Divide dough into four balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball; repeat 4 or 5 times. On a clean, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining balls; cover with a damp towel, and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Prepare as needed and arrange desired toppings.

WOLFGANG PUCK'S PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4 cup of the warm water.
• Combine the flour and the salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Alternatively, combine in a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook.
• Add the oil, yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and mix until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides and forms a ball.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand for 2 or 3 minutes. The dough should be smooth and firm.
• Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes. When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled.
• Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 F.
• Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times.
• On a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat with the remaining balls. At this point, the dough balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
• To prepare each pizza, dip the ball of dough into flour and shake off the excess. Place the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface and start to stretch the dough. Press down on the center, spreading the dough into an 8-inch circle with an outer border a little thicker than the middle.
• Lightly brush the inner circle of the dough with oil.
• Arrange toppings of your choice over the oil. Using a lightly floured baker's peel or a rimless flat baking tray, slide the pizza onto the hot baking stone and bake until the pizza crust is nicely browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer the pizza to a firm surface and cut it into slices with a pizza cutter or very sharp knife. Repeat with the remaining pizza dough. Serve immediately.

PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4-cup warm water.
• In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and the salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and mix on low speed until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes. (The pizza dough can also be made in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse once or twice, add the remaining ingredients, and process until the dough begins to form a ball.)
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes. (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
• Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
• Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To prepare each pizza, dip the ball of dough into flour, shake off the excess flour, place the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface, and start to stretch the dough. Press down on the center, spreading the dough into an 8-inch circle, with the outer border a little thicker than the inner circle. If you find this difficult to do, use a small rolling pin to roll out the dough. Lightly brush the inner circle of the dough with oil and arrange the topping of your choice over the inner circle.
• Using a lightly floured baker's peel or a rimless flat baking tray, slide the pizza onto the baking stone and bake until the pizza crust is nicely browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Remember that the oven is very hot and be careful as you place the pizza into and out of the oven. Transfer the pizza to a firm surface and cut into slices with a pizza cutter or very sharp knife. Serve immediately.

WOLFGANG PUCK'S PIZZAS WITH SMOKED SALMON AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and put a pizza stone inside. Knead 2 teaspoons of the minced chives into the pizza dough. Roll or stretch the dough into four 8-inch circles. Place the pizzas on a lightly floured wooden peel or board. (Work in batches.) Brush the centers of the circles with olive oil to within 1 inch of the edges.
• Slide the pizzas onto the stone and bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to serving plates and spread with the sour cream or creme frache. Arrange the salmon slices over the top. Place a tablespoon of the golden caviar in the center of each pizza and spoon 1/4 of the black caviar into each center. Sprinkle the salmon with the remaining chives and serve.

FAMOUS CALIFORNIA PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine yeast, honey, and 1/4 cup warm water in a large bowl with a whisk. Let stand to dissolve, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and 1 cup flour to the mixture and stir until a batter forms. Add another 1 cup flour; stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup more flour and combine.
• Turn dough out onto a surface dusted with 1/4 cup flour. Knead until a smooth, fairly firm, slightly sticky dough is achieved, adding more flour as needed.
• Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board and pat down with your hand. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Stretch and fold each piece down and under, tucking as you go, to form pizza dough rounds.
• Cover with a towel and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Dust a baking sheet with cornmeal.
• Transfer dough rounds to a lightly floured board and press each piece out to desired thickness, starting in the center, until 8 to 10 inches wide. Form a crust shape around the outer edges with your fingertips.
• Transfer one round of pizza dough to the prepared baking sheet and brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Top with any sauce and toppings you like.
• Bake in the lower rack of the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Move to the center of the oven and continue to bake until golden, about 10 minutes more. Repeat to bake remaining pizzas.