Pizza is a delicious dish, but the calories can add up quickly. One way to enjoy the wonderful taste while being mindful of your waistline is to make your own thin crust pizza at home. You will need to gather the following ingredients before you get started:
- Grated mozzarella cheese
image c/o Shutterstock - Tomato paste
- Toppings you want on your pizza
- 1 Tablespoon each of sugar, salt and olive oil
- A package of dry yeast
- 2 3/4 cups of flour
- 1 1/2 cups of warm water
Once you have all of these ingredients and are ready to start cooking, preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
Preparing the Perfect Thin Crust Pizza
The first step in creating a mouth-watering, reduced-calorie crust is to place the sugar and yeast into a bowl. Next, add the 1 1/2 cups of warm water to these ingredients until they dissolve. You should stir the contents of the bowl vigorously and then set it aside. You need a large mixing bowl for the next step. In this bowl, add the flour, olive oil and salt, and mix with your hands or a large spoon. When there are no lumps remaining in the ingredients, add the yeast mixture and stir until it forms dough.
Next, take the dough and place it on a clean surface for kneading. A cutting board or a large area of your counter are good options. Be certain to put flour on the surface first so that your dough does not stick to it. You may need to knead the dough for up to 10 minutes until it is thin and stretchy enough to form your pizza crust. Push down hard on the dough and stretch it out until there are no visible lumps.
Allow the Dough to Sit for 30 Minutes
When you are satisfied with your pizza dough, roll it into a large ball, place it in a clean mixing bowl and cover it with clear plastic cling wrap. You can take a break for half an hour to allow the dough time to rise. When you return, it should be almost double in size. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and flatten with a rolling pin, forming it into an even circle as you work.
You are now ready to transfer your pizza dough to an oiled cookie sheet or baking tray and add the ingredients. The tomato sauce goes on first. You can use a spoon or a small pastry brush to spread it across the dough. Next, add mozzarella cheese and the toppings you chose earlier. Be sure to distribute the toppings evenly on every piece. The last step is to place your thin crust pizza in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 450 degrees. It is finished when it is evenly browned across its entire surface. After letting your pizza cool for a few minutes, let everyone know it’s time to dive in and enjoy your homemade creation.
