Oven Baked Pizza Recipes

PIZZA OVEN PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine the water and salt in a large bowl and stir to dissolve the salt. Add the yeast and stir until dissolved. Add the flour and use your hands to stir and knead gently until the dough just comes together and all the flour is incorporated, about 2 minutes. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Knead the dough until a smooth ball forms, about 2 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled dough box or a bowl and cover with a tightly fitting lid or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise until slightly puffy, about 1 hour.
• Gently transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide the dough into four even pieces for 12-inch pizzas. (If you want larger pizzas divide the dough into three balls.) Form the pieces into compact balls and transfer to a lightly floured dough box or baking sheet; leave plenty of space between each ball for them to expand. Lightly flour the tops and cover the balls with a lid or plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature until puffy and nearly doubled in size, about 7 hours (see Cook's Note). Form and bake as desired.

OVEN-BAKED PIZZA

Steps:

• To make the pizza dough, measure 1/4 cup of the warm water into a 2-cup measuring cup. Sprinkle in the yeast and let stand until the yeast dissolves and foams, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup warm water and the olive oil.
• Pulse the flour and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the yeast mixture and pulse to combine. If the dough does not readily form into a ball, add another tablespoon or two of warm water and pulse until a ball forms. Process until the dough is smooth and satiny, about 30 seconds longer.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead by hand with a few strokes to form a smooth, round ball. Put the dough into a large oiled bowl and cover the bowl with a clean dish towel. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• In a medium sauté pan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F at least 30 minutes before baking the pizza. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and divide the dough in half. Form each piece into a ball and cover with a damp cloth. Working with one piece of dough at a time, shape the dough on top of the parchment-lined baking sheets into rectangles about 14 x 7 x 1/4 inch thick. Lightly prick the surface with a fork and brush each with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Bake the pizzas one at a time on the bottom rack of the oven until light golden brown, about 6 minutes. Divide the onions and cheese over the top of each pizza. Return the pizzas to the oven and bake until the cheese has melted, about 3 minutes.
• To serve, drizzle with the crème fraîche and some parsley-garlic oil. Top with the bacon, garlic chips, parsley leaves, and lemon zest.
• Parsley-Garlic Oil
• Heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the garlic with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels. Let the oil cool.
• Process the garlic oil and parsley in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.