Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups warm water (around 40°c or 110°f)

• 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast (one packet)

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 5 cups plain flour

• 1 tbsp salt

• ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

• Toppings (I used 1 bottle of tomato sauce and ½ a packet of cheese)

 

Method:

1. Put the warm water, yeast and sugar in a bowl

2. Let this rest for around 15 minutes for the yeast to activate

3. Place the flour, salt and ½ a cup of olive oil and yeast mixture into a medium bowl.

4. Mix on low speed for around 5 minutes if you are using an electric mixer or mix with a fork until combined and then kneed for 7 minutes if you are doing it by hand. The dough should be slightly ‘tacky’

5. Kneed for an extra 2-3 minutes by hand on a floured surface

6. Place the dough into a bowl coated with oil and cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap for 1 hour in a warm place

7. After it has risen for 1 hour place ¼ cup of oil into a sheet pan and spread the dough out coating it with oil on both sides

8. Poke the dough with your fingers to made holes as you stretch the dough

9. Let the dough rise again for around 1 hour

10. Preheat oven to 220°c or 425°f

11.  Bake the dough for 20 minutes until golden brown

12. Add any toppings you like, if you use cheese broil/grill until it has melted