Nothing says summer like a pizza made with fresh tomatoes and basil. It is one of our favorites and we look forward to this time of year when these ingredients are at their best.
I also have come up with an easy to make pizza dough that doesn’t require a lot of attention. It works perfectly every time. You just have to remember to make it a day ahead.
Putting the pizza together and baking it are a breeze, which is just what you want for this time of year. Make a green salad to go with the pizza and dinner is complete,
Easy Pizza Dough
Makes one 15 – 16 inch round pizza. Prepare the dough one day ahead.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup lukewarm water
2 1/2 cups Italian flour or bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Topping
3 medium fresh, ripe tomatoes, sliced thin
½ cup homemade or store-bought pesto
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
7 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in the large bowl of an electric mixer and with the paddle attachment mix until the ingredients come together around the paddle.
Attach the dough hook and knead the dough for 5-6 minutes.
Spray a ziplock plastic bag with olive oil cooking spray. Place the dough in the bag and close the top. Place the bag in the refrigerator overnight.
When ready to make the pizza, remove the bag from the refrigerator 30 minutes before making the pizza.
Place the sliced tomatoes on paper towels to drain.
Turn the oven to 500 degrees F and let the oven heat for 30 minutes.
Turn the dough out onto an oiled pizza pan and push the dough to the edges with your fingers.
Spread the pesto over the dough and cover the pesto layer with the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.
Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and place slices of fresh mozzarella over the tomatoes.
Return the pizza to the oven and bake for 10 minutes more.
