Well, now, I reckon I’m gonna tell ya how to make a right good pizza dough for a 14-inch pizza with a nice medium crust. Now don’t go getting fancy, it’s all about gettin’ the right amount of flour and water, and knowin’ how to work that dough just right. Let’s get started, and don’t you worry, it’s real easy if you follow along!
First off, we gotta talk about the ingredients. You ain’t gonna need much, just a few things you probably got around the house already. Here’s what you need for that 14-inch pizza dough with a medium crust:
- Flour – You want about 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour. Don’t be fussin’ with any special kinds, just plain ol’ flour will do.
- Water – 1 cup of lukewarm water. Now, not too hot, not too cold, just right like Goldilocks would say.
- Yeast – 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast. You want it to rise nice and fluffy!
- Olive oil – 2 tablespoons of good ol’ olive oil, helps make that dough stretch.
- Salt – 1 teaspoon of salt. Don’t go skimpin’ on the salt, it makes all the difference.
- Sugar – 1 teaspoon of sugar. This helps the yeast get goin’, so your dough rises good.
Now, to get that dough right, you gotta mix it up proper. First thing you do is pour that warm water in a big ol’ bowl. Sprinkle the yeast and sugar over top, and give it a little stir. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it gets nice and foamy, like a good ol’ cup of coffee.
While you’re waitin’, grab a big ol’ mixing bowl and sift that flour and salt together. Once that yeast mix is all bubbly, pour it into the flour mix along with the olive oil. Use your hands or a spoon, whatever you got, and start mixin’ it all up. Keep goin’ until it starts lookin’ like dough.
Now, it’s time to knead that dough. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! Flour your surface a little bit, and then plop that dough down. Start pushin’ it, foldin’ it, turnin’ it around. You’ll want to knead for about 10 minutes, or until it gets nice and smooth, soft but not sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a bit more water. Just listen to the dough, it’ll tell ya what it needs.
Once it’s all kneaded and smooth, put it back in the bowl, cover it with a clean towel, and let it sit for about an hour. The dough’s gonna rise, so don’t go openin’ the towel and peekin’ every five minutes! Just let it be. After that hour, you should see it about double in size.
Next, punch the dough down. Yep, punch it! Ain’t no harm in it, just get all the air out. Then turn it out onto a floured surface again and roll it out with a rolling pin. Now, you want it to be big enough to cover that 14-inch pizza pan. If it’s too sticky to roll, just dust it with a little more flour.
Once you got it all spread out nice, you’re ready to put it on your pizza pan. Gently lift the dough and place it on the pan, then press it out to fit. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, that’s part of the charm! If you want a thicker crust, leave it a little thicker around the edges. For a thinner one, stretch it out some more.
Now, if you want a crispy crust, you can pre-bake the dough a bit before you add the toppings. Just put it in the oven at 475°F (245°C) for about 5 to 7 minutes. That’ll give it a head start before you pile on all your good stuff. Once it’s got a little color, take it out and add whatever toppings you like.
After that, pop it back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is all bubbly. Keep an eye on it, and when it looks good, pull it out, slice it up, and enjoy! You just made yourself a mighty fine pizza with a medium crust that’s got just the right amount of chew and crunch.
So, there you go. Don’t let all them fancy recipes scare ya. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have yourself a homemade pizza that tastes just like the ones in the big city. It don’t take much, just a little patience and a whole lot of love. Now, get bakin’ and share it with the family!
Tags：[14 inch pizza dough, medium crust pizza, pizza dough recipe, homemade pizza, pizza crust recipe, pizza dough weight]
