Jenny Gentiles Pizza Dough Recipes

JENNY GENTILE'S PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a cup dissolve 1 pack of yeast in 4 tablespoons of warm (but not hot) water.
• Allow to proof (sit) for 10 minutes.
• In another cup, mix together 12 tablespoons of cold water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of honey.
• Add the wet ingredients (cold stuff first) to 3 cups of flour and mix (I sometimes use a food processor, but you can use your hands.) Allow the dough to rise. Personally, I make the dough the night before I need it, put it in the refrigerator overnight, and let it rise the next day (all day.) But as long as you let it rise at least 2 hours, it should be OK.

HONEY PIZZA DOUGH (AWESOME)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4-cup warm water (100-110 degrees).
• In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour and the salt. (can do by hand with spoon if you don't have a mixer).
• Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 C water, mix on low speed until dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes.
• If the dough is still sticky, then simply add a bit more flour until it pulls cleanly away from the hook.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes.
• The dough should be smooth and firm. Place in lightly oiled bowl an cover with plastic wrap.
• Let sit for about 30-45 minutes. (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
• Take dough out of bowl and divide into either 2 or 4 balls, depending on whether you want 2 large pizzas or 4 small.
• Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times.
• Cover the dough with a damp towel (I just use plastic wrap, loosely fitted) and let rest 15 to 20 minutes.
• At this point, the balls can be used or wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
• To make pizzas, I stretch out onto greased pizza pan, top with sauce and toppings, and bake at 450 degrees for 12-16 minutes, until done. (smaller pizzas will take less time, so keep watching it)
• I usually slide the pizza off the pan for the remaining 2 minutes to crisp it up a bit.

TONY'S PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, using a fork, stir the yeast into the lukewarm water; set aside until the yeast dissolves; about 5 minutes.
• In another small bowl, combine the cold water, sugar, salt, and olive oil; stir to dissolve the sugar and salt.
• To make the dough using a stand mixer: fit a heavy-duty stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.
• Place 5 ¼ cups flour in the mixer bowl.
• Add the yeast mixture along with the cold water mixture and mix on low speed until the flour is incorporated and the dough gathers together to form a coarse ball, about 4 minutes.
• Let rest 2 minutes, then mix on low speed until the dough is smooth and not sticky, about 6 minutes longer (if the dough begins to climb up the dough hook toward the motor drive, stop the mixer and push it down; if machine labors and the motor feels hot, stop and wait a few minutes for the motor to cool down).
• Turn the dough out on a well-floured work surface and knead for a minute or two until it forms a smooth ball, adding up to ¼ cup flour of additional flour, if necessary.
• Cut the dough in half to form even portions, each weighing 22 ounces.
• With floured hands, pick up one portion of dough and pull the opposite edges together, wrapping them underneath toward the center to form a tight smooth ball; pinch to seal.
• Repeat with the second portion; place each portion in a 1-gallon zip-lock plastic bag; squeeze out all the air and seal the bags, allowing enough room for the dough to double in size.
• Refrigerate for at least 10 hours or up to 2 days.
• Remove from refrigerator 1 hour before using to allow dough to come to room temperature; proceed with any California-style pizza.