slightly thick, bakery-style pizzas at home
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Ingredients (for 4–5 small pizzas)
For the dough:
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm water
- 2¼ tsp (7 g) instant yeast
- 1 tbsp (12 g) sugar
- 1 tsp (6 g) salt
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil or olive oil
For the sauce:
- 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp (5 g) garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp (5 g) dried oregano
- ½ tsp (2 g) salt
- ½ tsp (2 g) sugar
Toppings (mix as desired):
- 2 cups (200 g) mozzarella cheese, grated
- ½ cup (75 g) cooked minced beef or sausage
- ½ cup (75 g) sweet corn
- ½ cup (75 g) mushrooms, sliced
- ½ cup (75 g) green bell peppers, sliced
- ¼ cup (40 g) red bell peppers, diced
- Pepperoni slices (optional)
Instructions
Start by activating the yeast. Stir the warm water and sugar together, then sprinkle in the yeast. Let it sit for a few minutes until it looks foamy and alive.
In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture along with the oil, then mix until everything comes together into a soft dough. Turn it onto a surface and knead until smooth and elastic—this takes about 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should feel soft but not sticky.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. It should look puffy and airy.
While the dough rises, prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in a small pan, gently cook the garlic for a few seconds, then stir in the tomato sauce, oregano, salt, and sugar. Let it simmer briefly, then cool.
Once the dough is ready, punch it down and divide it into 4 or 5 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a round, slightly thick base—like the ones in your image, not too thin.
Place the bases on a greased baking tray. Spread a layer of sauce over each one, then sprinkle generously with cheese. Add your toppings—corn, peppers, mushrooms, meat—however you like. Finish with a little extra cheese on top.
Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (about 400°F) for 12–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and slightly golden, and the crust is lightly browned.
Let them cool for a minute or two, then serve warm. The crust will be soft inside with a slight crisp underneath, just like a homemade version of those mini pizza trays.
