This homemade pepperoni pizza calls for 3 different types of cheese, which makes it a cheese lover’s ultimate dream! It is baked to perfection in a 9 inch metal sheet pan with higher sides to allow the crust to rise to the desired thickness. This recipe is easier than you think and adds lots of fun to dinner nights with family. Nothing beats that. (not to mention the leftovers!)
First things first. The crust. The classic pizza crust calls for simple, basic ingredients that are likely to be found in anybody’s pantry: flour, water, yeast, olive oil and salt. I also like to add a pinch of sugar to help activate the yeast faster. This speeds up the process a little bit.
How to Make Pizza Dough
Step 1. Proofing the yeast. I always start my pizza crust baking process this way. It is a basic step that helps you ensure the yeast is still active and it is ready to be used in your dough. It takes as little as 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast in a warm enough environment. The yeast + water mixture should form bubbles and become foamy. If the yeast is old, it could take longer. If nothing happens after 15-20 minutes, the yeast cannot be used and needs to be discarded.
Step 2. Kneading. This process will take about 15 minutes if you do it by hand or 5 minutes if you use a stand or a hand mixer. The dough is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl (if using a mixer) or when the dough becomes firm and slightly sweaty when holding it in your hands.
Step 3. Resting. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured bowl, cover with plastic film or a clean towel and allow it to raise for about 30 minutes or until the dough has doubled in volume.
Step 4. Pre-Baking. At this point you can turn on the oven to 400 degrees F (or 200 degrees C) to preheat the oven. A pan pizza crust needs a lower temperature to make sure the dough cooks thoroughly. Because we’re making a thick crust pizza, the crust needs to be pre-baked for about 6-8 minutes before adding the toppings. This is another important step to make sure the crust is cooked throughout and it has a nice, crispy bottom.
Toppings or Cheese First?
This is a question I often asked myself the first started to make my own pizza. “Should I add the toppings or should I add the cheese first?” . The answer is simple. There are no rules. It is up to you to decide depending on your own taste and the type of pizza you’re making. For this particular pizza I chose: sauce, cheese, salami, then a few more sprinkles of cheese on top for that cheesy, slightly golden top. The idea behind it is that you want that classic pepperoni pizza feel where the salami is cooked through and has those brown, crispy edges.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Combine 1 tbsp of flour, sugar, dry yeast and warm water in a bowl and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
In a separate bowl add 1 1/2 cups of flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and olive oil and mix everything together with a spoon.
Add another cup of flour and start kneading. Gradually add the rest of the flour as you continue kneading.
Transfer it to a lightly floured bowl and rest the dough for about 30 minutes or until the it has doubled in volume. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F (or 200 degrees C).
Once the dough has risen, gently deflate it with your fingers and transfer to a floured surface and roll the dough into a 9 inch square.
Transfer the dough to a high-sided sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Use a fork to poke holes throughout the surface of the pizza and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Pre-bake for about 6-8 minutes to make sure the dough has cooked through, then take it out and add the toppings in this order: sauce, cheese, salami.
Begin with a generous layer of tomato sauce and make sure to distribute it evenly.
Add a generous layer of mozzarella, then cheddar cheese.
Add dried salami and then sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 400 degrees F oven until all the toppings are golden brown and your kitchen is filled with the most amazing flavours.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine 1 tbsp of flour, sugar, dry yeast and warm water in a bowl and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
In a separate bowl add 1 1/2 cups of flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and olive oil and mix everything together with a spoon.
Add another cup of flour and start kneading. Gradually add the rest of the flour as you continue kneading.
Transfer it to a lightly floured bowl and rest the dough for about 30 minutes or until the it has doubled in volume. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F (or 200 degrees C).
Once the dough has risen, gently deflate it with your fingers and transfer to a floured surface and roll the dough into a 9 inch square.
Transfer the dough to a high-sided sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Use a fork to poke holes throughout the surface of the pizza and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Pre-bake for about 6-8 minutes to make sure the dough has cooked through, then take it out and add the toppings in this order: sauce, cheese, salami.
Begin with a generous layer of tomato sauce and make sure to distribute it evenly.
Add a generous layer of mozzarella, then cheddar cheese.
Add dried salami and then sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 400 degrees F oven until all the toppings are golden brown and your kitchen is filled with the most amazing flavours.