Like most families, my family love pizza.  It is such a simple easy dinner to make.  I like to make Margarita Pizza as it uses simple elements and tastes wonderful.  I serve with a salad using lettuce from my garden this time of year.  The pizza dough is from Paul Hollywood’s Bread book and is simple and simply wonderful.

Recipe for Dough

For the pizza dough

• 250g/9oz strong white flour, plus extra for flouring
• 5g/¼oz salt
• 30ml/1fl oz olive oil
• 5g/¼oz fast-action yeast
• 180ml/6fl oz water
• semolina, for dusting (optional)

• Method

  1. For the pizza dough, mix the flour, salt, olive oil, yeast and water together in a bowl.

  2. Turn the dough out onto an oiled work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cut off a small piece of the dough and stretch part of it as thinly as you can. If you can see the shadow of your fingers through the dough – the light should shine through the dough like a window pane – without the dough tearing, it is ready to prove.

  3. Shape the dough into a ball and tip into a bowl.

  4. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for an hour.

  5. Divide the mix into three balls. Roll out on a floured surface into circles. Place each circle on a flat baking tray or a plastic chopping board dusted with semolina (so the pizza can be easily transferred to the oven later).

  6. Place a pizza stone or an upturned baking tray into the oven and heat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7 (in a non-fan oven).

  7. Add the topping of your choice and cook for 10 -12 minutes.

I like to make a very simple marinara sauce:

Ingredients:

1 can chopped tomatoes (low sodium)

5 cloves garlic, chopped finely

1/4 cup olive oil

Oregano and thyme from my garden

Salt & pepper

I cook this for about 20 minutes, then puree, so it is very fine.  I put it on top of the pizza within about 1/2 inch of the edge.  I top with small/good fresh mozzarella balls and cut basil.  I think you should use what ever amount makes you happy and looks good.  I then cook, as described before for about 10-12 minutes in a hot oven.  I do use a pizza stone and put it in the oven to heat first, then add the pizza on a pizza pan on top.  Makes the crust on the bottom cook to perfection.