Teens cooking
Teen Cooking: Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe to Make From Scratch
- Easy for teenagers to make independently
- Toppings can be adapted to what you have at home
- Dough can be prepared earlier in the day
- Simple ingredients with no unnecessary additives
The base of this pizza is very easy to handle – and you can use a range of flours to make it – If using Wholegrain flour, you may need a little more water to make a stretchy dough. Great source of fibre and energy from the starchy carbs and higher protein content in the strong bread flour.
Look for a local organic flour – I used stone ground wholemeal from Tuxford Windmill or Stoates Flour or Bruern Farms . Using local suppliers supports our farmers and by reducing the distance your food travels, you are helping to cut carbon emissions.
Wholemeal flour doesn’t need anything added to it – this is called Fortification – in the UK there are food regulations which mean that some vitamins and minerals have to be added to plain white flour. Find out more about this in our Frequently Asked Questions
For a Gluten Free version, just substitute the Strong Bread Flour for your favourite brand of gluten free flour. I use Dove Farms which is easy to get in supermarkets and usually works well – most of their flour is organic but the gluten free version isn’t. Your dough may not be quite so stretchy and may need more water to bring it together.
Method
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1
Adults
to start
For the Dough: As early as you like – you could do this in the morning – get ready to make your dough. The longer you leave it, the more it will rise.
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2
Adults
sieve
Sieve the flour into a bowl and add the salt and yeast. If you’d like a herby base add a teaspoon of dried mixed herbs or basil
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3
Adults
pizza dough
Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. You can leave the butter out but it helps the dough hold together well. Add the warm water gradually to the flour and mix together to form a soft but not sticky dough using a table knife. If making a gluten free dough or using wholemeal flour, you may need a little more water. If it gets too sticky, add a little extra flour.
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4
Adults
kneading
On a clean worktop, knead the dough for 5 minutes – push your thumbs in and is should spring back – This means the protein in the dough has developed and will make your base super stretchy. At this stage you can put the dough back in the bowl, cover with a clean damp tea towel and leave it for as long as possible to ‘prove’. This gives the yeast time to ferment – the process that creates CO2 gas which makes the bread dough rise.
If you don’t have time or you are really hungry, you can carry straight on!!
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5
Adults
ready for the oven
Pre-heat the Oven to 200c. With a well floured rolling pin, roll out the dough on a floured surface to form a large circle. If it is sticky, shake a little more flour on everything. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled pizza or baking tray. Don’t start topping it first! You won’t be able to pick it up! Roll the dough over a rolling pin to pick it up see YouTube
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6
Adults
pizza toppings
Prepare all your toppings. Cut up the veg using safe knife techniques see YouTube or Frequently Asked Questions
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7
Adults
tomato base
Mix 2 tablespoons of tomato puree with 1 tablespoon of water and spread over the top of your pizza base, leaving a 1cm border – This helps to stop it burning. If you use passata, it is wet enough already so you can just spread 3 tablespoons straight on.
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8
Adults
add toppings
Arrange the toppings over the base.
Grate the cheese and sprinkle it over the top of the pizza.
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9
Adults
ready for the oven
Using oven gloves, put the pizza in the oven and bake for 10 – 15 minutes, depending how thick you rolled the base.
Wash up while it’s cooking.
Check your pizza – the crust should be puffed up round the edge and golden brown. Take it out with oven gloves and eat as soon as it’s cool enough.
To serve
Serve with a Salad. See our quick colourful salad recipes for some ideas.
Garlic Tear and Share easy to follow recipe.
