Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Shape and parcook the pizza crusts. You can do this up to one day in advance. If you have a pizza stone, place it on your grill or in your oven. Preheat the grill on high or the oven to 450℉.
- Cut each pound of dough into two equal pieces and shape each into a ball. Roll or press each ball into a 10" circle using a rolling pin or your hands. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes and roll again. You can also stretch the dough using your fists until it reaches the desired size and doesn't shrink back.
- If baking on a sheet pan or pizza pan: Sprinkle the pan with semolina flour and place the crust on top. Bake for 2-3 minutes, until the exterior of the crust is no longer raw and doughy.
- If baking on a pizza stone: Sprinkle a pizza peel liberally with semolina flour and place the crust on top. Shake the peel to ensure the crust slides smoothly; add more semolina flour underneath if needed.
- Slide each crust onto your pizza stone. Close the grill lid or oven door and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the exterior of the crust no longer feels doughy.
- Stack the parcooked crusts on a plate with parchment paper in between. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the toppings. Cook any raw meats in advance, slice or dice fresh toppings, and drain jarred toppings. Store them in baggies, small bowls, or snackle boxes in the refrigerator.
- Set up an assembly line before pizza time. Arrange ingredients in the order they'll be needed: plates, parcooked crusts, olive oil and salt (with a pastry brush), sauces, cheeses, and toppings. Remind everyone to brush the edges of their crust with olive oil and sprinkle with salt before adding toppings.
- Preheat the pizza stone on the grill on high heat or your oven to 450 degrees again.
- Start by assembling kids' pizzas and any shareable pizzas. Then, let other diners assemble their own pizzas.
- Transfer each pizza onto the pizza stone (or onto a baking sheet for the oven). Close the grill cover or oven door and bake for 7-10 minutes on the grill or 12-14 minutes in the oven. The cheese should be melted and the crust golden brown.
- Cut pizzas into slices and enjoy!
Notes
This guide is for beginners who want to make pizza from scratch. It covers dough, sauces, and a variety of toppings. You can adapt these ideas for dietary needs like gluten-free or low-carb options. Remember, the most important ingredient is having fun!