Also often referred to as ‘grandma pizza’, pan pizza is typically baked in large sheet pans which have been generously covered with a layer of oil. This means the base of the pizza basically fries as it cooks, resulting in a deliciously chewy and soft crust.
Although this pizza cooks in a pan, it’s worth using a pizza stone regardless and placing the pizza pan on top of the preheated stone to help ensure the crust cooks to golden perfection. To preheat your pizza stone, place it in the oven set at the highest possible temperature (typically 240c) and heat for at least 1 hour before use.
The recipe detailed below will make 1 pan pizza – the dough freezes very well however, should you choose to make a double batch or larger for future use.
- 120 grams strong white bread flour
- 3.5 grams fast action dried yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 tablespoon oil
- around 80-100 ml water
- 4 tablespoons crushed tomatoes
- pinch garlic powder
- pinch salt
- pinch dried oregano
- pinch chilli flakes
- dash olive oil
- 100 grams grated mozzarella cheese
- pinch black pepper & dried oregano to garnish
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In a bowl, add bread flour, yeast and sugar. Mix well. Add the salt, oil and water and mix again until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for around 5 minutes until soft and smooth. Return the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean damp cloth and set aside at room temperature for 2 hours.
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Make the pizza sauce: In a bowl, add crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, salt, dried oregano, chilli flakes and olive oil. Mix well and set aside for 30 minutes.
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After the dough has risen, knock the air out of the dough and knead again briefly. Add two teaspoons of olive oil to a rectangular baking tray and press the dough out to completely fill the tray. Cover with lightly oiled cling film and set aside for 30 minutes.
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Top the pizza dough with the prepared pizza sauce. Add the grated mozzarella cheese and put the pan on top of the preheated pizza stone at the highest temperature your oven will allow (typically 240c). Bake the pizza for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese is golden and the crust is nicely coloured.
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Remove the cooked pizza from the oven and garnish with a little black pepper and dried oregano. Slice into squares and serve.
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