Hand-Tossed Pizza and Toppings #PizzaWorld

Hand-Tossed Pizza and Toppings #PizzaWorld

Make your own pizza dough and pizza sauce to suits your tastes.

Yield: Makes 2 pizzas (14 in.); 8 to 12 servings

Ingredients:

• Make your own pizza dough

• 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce

• 4 cups shredded 100% whole-milk mozzarella cheese (1 lb.)

• 4 ounces meat such as thinly sliced salami or pepperoni

• 3 to 4 cups thinly sliced vegetables such as red onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, or pitted ripe olives

• 2 to 4 tablespoons seasonings such as chopped fresh jalapeño chilies or minced garlic (optional)

Preparation:

1. Let pizza dough stand at room temperature until almost doubled and no longer cold, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Coat two 14-inch pizza screens or pizza pans with cooking oil spray.

2. Remove dough from bags; coat with flour. On a lightly floured board, roll each ball into a 10-inch round.

3. Shake excess flour from dough, toss each round until it is stretched to 14 inches. Or lay each on a floured board and gently stretch to 14 inches. Lay crusts on prepared pizza screens or pans; don't press dough down.

4. Spread 3/4 cup quick pizza sauce over each crust to within 1 inch of edge. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature up to 3 hours. Shortly before baking, distribute half the cheese, meat, vegetables, and seasonings over each crust.

5. Set screens or pans on the bottom rack or on a heated baking stone (see notes) on bottom rack in a 500° oven (one at a time if you have only one oven). Bake until crust is browned on the bottom (lift one edge to check), 10 to 15 minutes. Slide each pizza onto a board and cut into wedges.

Some Favorite Toppings:

Hot Spicy Chicken:

Top each round with 3/4 cup quick pizza sauce; 1 1/2 cups shredded sautéed chicken breast mixed with 3 to 4 tablespoons hot sauce; 2 cups shredded 100% whole-milk mozzarella cheese; 3/4 cup thinly sliced red onion; 2 to 4 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh jalapeño chilies; 1 to 2 tablespoons minced garlic; 4 ounces uncooked firm chorizo, cut into 1/2-inch chunks; and paprika to taste.

Margherita:

Brush each round with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; top with 2 cups shredded 100% whole-milk mozzarella cheese and 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil. Bake until top is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Distribute about 18 fresh basil leaves mixed with 1 teaspoon olive oil over pizza; continue baking until crust is browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes longer. Meanwhile, drain 8 thin tomato slices on paper towels; arrange on baked pizza.

Vegetable:

Top each round with 1 cup quick pizza sauce; 2 cups shredded 100% whole-milk mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup each thinly sliced red onion, green bell pepper, zucchini, and drained oil-packed dried tomato halves; and 1 jar (6 1/2 oz.) marinated artichoke hearts, drained.