THIN-CRUST CHEESE PIZZA

Thin-Crust Cheese Pizza image

This thin crust pizza does not have a pronounced rim to it and bakes up flat all the way across, making it ideal for spreading the sauce and any cheeses to the very edge. Try cutting into squares instead of triangles for a fun twist.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 1h40m

Yield Two 12-inch thin-crust pizzas

Number Of Ingredients 16

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Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (about 110˚ F)
2 cups bread flour
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the bowl
1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 small clove garlic, grated
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of sugar, plus more if needed
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 1/2 cups freshly grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Steps:

Make the dough: Sprinkle the yeast over the hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until dissolved and slightly foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk the bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the yeast mixture into the well and add the olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, dust the dough with flour and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until very smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, 3 to 5 minutes.
Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough into two 1-pound balls; wrap one ball in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before using.
Make the pizza sauce: Combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, sugar and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl; season with more salt and sugar if needed. (Makes about 1 1/2 cups.)
Make the pizza: Preheat the oven to 500˚ F (use the convection setting, if available) with a pizza stone, baking steel or inverted large baking sheet in the lower third of the oven. Working on a lightly floured surface, cut the other ball of dough in half. Cup your hand around each piece and gently roll each into a small ball. Transfer 1 ball of dough to a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and roll into a thin 12-inch round with a rolling pin (keep the other ball of dough covered; this recipe makes 2 thin-crust pizzas). Top the dough with 1/4 cup pizza sauce and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, going all the way to the edge.
Transfer the pizza (on the parchment) to the hot stone and bake until the crust is set, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with 1 1/4 cups grated mozzarella, going all the way to the edge. Return the pizza to the stone, then slide out the parchment from under it. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Repeat to make another pizza.