Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups warm water (95° F)
• One ¼ ounce package active dry yeast
• 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
• 3 ½ cups of “00” flour
• Scant 2 tablespoons salt
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Semolina for dusting
• Sausage and Peppers Pizza Topping (see recipe below)

Instructions

1. Whisk the warm water, yeast and sugar together in a bowl. Let stand in a warm place for 10 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy.
2. Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and mix well. With the mixer on low, add the yeast mixture and oil, mixing well. Continue to mix, gradually increasing the mixer speed to medium-high, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and give it a few turns by hand to finish kneading it; it will still be slightly sticky. (Alternatively, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl and whisk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the yeast mixture and oil. Using a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the mixture is too stiff to stir, then mix with your hands in the bowl until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.)
3. Turn the dough out onto the lightly floured work surface and knead, adding only as much flour as necessary to prevent sticking, until smooth and elastic, and only slightly sticky. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl, turning to coat, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until doubled in size.
4. To shape the dough, punch it down and turn it out onto a well-floured work surface. Divide it into 8 pieces (about 4 ounces each) and shape each one into a ball. Cover with a tea towel and let stand for 15 minutes before stretching the dough. For easier handling, transfer the balls to a floured baking sheet and refrigerate until cold.
   Step 5: Stretch and parbake the dough: Dust a large work surface with a mixture of flour and semolina. If the dough has been refrigerated, transfer one ball to the work surface and let stand just until still cool but no longer cold (about 60° F).
5. Meanwhile, preheat the griddle pan over medium heat until very hot, about 5 minutes (to about 375° F). Using your hands, begin to press and stretch the dough into a 9- to 10-inch round, adding only enough additional flour and semolina to the work surface to keep the dough from sticking; using one hand as a guide, slope a slightly thicker rim all around the circle of dough. Work quickly, and be careful not to overwork the dough; if it resists or shrinks back as you shape it, let it rest briefly before proceeding. (If you prefer, you can roll out the dough with a rolling pin: Lightly flour the work surface and the rolling pin; sprinkle the rolling pin with more flour as necessary to prevent sticking.)
6. Carefully place the dough round on the pre-heated griddle pan and cook until barely tan on the first side and browned in a few spots, 2 to 3 minutes. As the crust cooks, if you see any parts that remain undercooked, especially any thicker parts, simply press them against the pan so they cook a bit more; once the dough has set you can move the crust around as necessary for more even cooking. Flip the crust over and cook until the second side is completely dry, about 1 minute longer.
7. Transfer the crust to a wire rack or baking sheet, brushing off any excess flour, and allow to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough. (The parbaked crusts can be refrigerated overnight or frozen, well-wrapped, for up to 2 weeks. Sometimes when you go through the effort of preparing all these steps, it might be worth making more than you want to eat and then, depending on the toppings, freezing the extra finished pizzas.)
8. Top the pizza and broil it: Place the parbaked pizza crust on a pizza peel or baking sheet. Spread tomato sauce evenly over the crust, leaving 1/2-inch border all around, and top with Sausage and Peppers Topping. (Do not put the sauce and any other ingredients on the pizza crust until ready to broil it, or the crust may become soggy.) Slide the pizza under the broiler, about 4 inches from the heat source, and broil for 7 or 8 minutes, until the topping ingredients are heated and/or cooked through and crust is charred and blistered in spots. Watch closely so that the ingredients don’t burn; move the pizza around or lower the broiler rack if necessary. If you prefer more color move the pizza closer to the heat source at the very end. Cut into slices with a pizza wheel, kitchen shears or a very sharp knife. Serve hot

Sausage and Peppers Pizza Topping

Ingredients

• 3 ounces sweet or hot Italian sausage (about 1/2 large link), casing removed
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, slivered
• 1 teaspoon salt-packed capers, rinsed and soaked overnight in cold water (change the water often)
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• Maldon or other flaky sea salt
• Generous pinch of hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 2 ½ medium piquillo peppers, drained well and quartered lengthwise
• ¼ cup Pomi strained tomatoes
• ¼ cup shredded fresh mozzarella
• ¼ cup shredded cacio di Roma

Instructions

1. Crumble the sausage into a small sauté pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up any lumps, until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate and reserve.
2. Combine the oil and garlic in a small sauté pan and cook over medium-low heat just until the garlic is barely golden, 2 to 3 minutes, and reserve.
3. Combine the capers and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl and whisk in the garlic and oil. Season with salt to taste and the red pepper flakes. Add the peppers, stirring gently to coat.
4. Spread the strained tomatoes evenly over the parbaked pizza crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Scatter the sausage over the sauce and arrange the peppers on top. Scatter the cheeses evenly over the pizza.

Basic Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

Makes 4 cups

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, cut in ¼ inch dice
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried
• ½ medium carrot, finely shredded
• 2 28-ounce cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
• Kosher salt to taste

Instructions

1. In a 3-quart saucepans, heat the olive oil over medium heat, add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often.
2. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.

Notes:

Source: Mario Batali