Sourdough Pizza Crust

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup sourdough starter, unfed
• ½ cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for greasing and brushing

Method

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, sourdough starter, water, yeast, and salt. Knead the dough in the stand mixer until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 5–7 minutes. If the dough seems dry, add an extra tablespoon of warm water at a time.
2. Grease a large bowl with a thin layer of olive oil. Transfer the dough ball to the greased bowl and cover it with a clean tea towel to insulate it from the outside air.
3. Place the dough in a warm place and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the towel and stretch the dough. Pull the center of the dough upwards, and push it back down into itself. Repeat this process about 10 times.
5. Cover the dough with the towel and allow it to rest at room temperature until it doubles in size, about 2–4 hours.
6. When your dough has risen, prepare to bake the crust. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and form it into a ball. Leave the dough as-is for a large sheet pan pizza, or divide the dough into 2 equal pieces to make 2 smaller pizzas.
8. Lightly grease a large sheet pan or two round pizza pans with olive oil, or line them with parchment paper.
9. Place the dough on the pan and use a rolling pin and your hands to begin shaping the dough to fit the pan, gently stretching it out to the edges. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for an additional 15 minutes.
10. After 15 minutes, stretch the dough out once more so that it meets the edges of the pan.
11. Place the pan in the oven and bake the crust for 10 minutes.
12. Remove the crust from the oven and add the tomato sauce, cheese, and pizza toppings of your choice. Place the pizza in the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and the toppings are cooked, 5–10 minutes.
13. Allow the pizza to cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.