Basic Pizza Crust

By Tonya_Speed

NUTRITION per serving: 471 Calories; 5g Fat; 28g Protein; 83g Carbohydrate; 16g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 384mg Sodium. Exchanges: 5 1/2 Grain (Starch); 2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat. Points: 9

Ingredients

• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from savingdinner.com

Preparation

Step 1

Dissolve yeast in water; set aside for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine flour, salt, sugar and oil in bowl; make a well in the center. When water/yeast mixture is bubbly, pour into center of well. Start kneading dough, bringing flour toward center of bowl; gradually increase kneading motion. If dough feels dry, add a little more water; if it feels sticky, add more flour. Knead vigorously until dough is smooth and elastic. Roll into ball; cover with a damp cloth. Let rest for about 20 minutes in warm place. Beat dough with your palm to expel gas formed while fermenting (this will give you a good upper-body workout, too!). Roll dough again into ball; place in greased bowl. Baste with oil. Cover with plastic wrap; store in refrigerator. When ready to use, place dough on floured surface. Flatten with your hands, working from center out (you can use a rolling pin here if you’d like). Push dough evenly onto greased cookie sheet or pizza pan, forming a 12-inch circle with edges thicker than middle. Add your favorite sauce and toppings. Bake at 475 degrees until golden brown.