For the dough
1. In a bowl, dissolve the salt in the water.
Next, add the yeast and stir to activate.
2. Add the water mix to the mixing bowl of your stand mixer, followed by the flour.
This prevents the flour from collecting at the bottom.
3. Using the bread hook, knead on a low speed, making sure to scrape down any excess flour.
Once fully combined, knead at a low speed for a further 10 minutes.
Tip: If mixing by hand, place the flour in a large bowl and pour the yeast mixture into it. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough starts to form. Continue mixing by hand until the pizza dough comes together in a ball.
4. Once kneaded, scrape the dough into a small bowl and cover with a damp towel.
The towel creates a moisture seal that allows the dough to breathe while preventing moisture from escaping. Leave to prove in a warm room for 90 minutes.
5. Perform a stretch and fold with the dough to help it build structure.
Moisten your hands with water to help pick up the dough from the bowl, as it will be quite sticky – you can also keep a bowl of water handy while you do this to keep wetting your hands as necessary.
6. Gently pick up the dough and allow gravity to pull the dough downwards, so that it hangs like a curtain with your fingers in the middle; lay the dough flat in the bowl with the inside seam lying lengthways.
Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat, picking up the dough to gently stretch before laying it flat again. Repeat this 5 to 10 times, or until the dough becomes smooth.
Tip: This process traps the carbon dioxide that’s developing in the dough, which helps it form bubbles and rise while cooking.
7. Brush the sheet pan with the olive oil and lay the dough inside the pan.
Cover with a wet tea towel and place in the fridge overnight, for at least 12 hours.
8. At least two hours before you’re ready to start preparing the pizza, remove the dough from the fridge and allow the dough to return to room temperature.
9. To stretch the pizza dough into the sheet pan, place your fingers under the dough and pull towards the edge of the pan.
The dough will naturally contract towards itself, so leave for 30 minutes to relax, covered with the damp tea towel again.
10. Repeat as necessary until the dough is fully relaxed and reaches right into the corners of the pan.
11. Fire up your Ooni pizza oven, and preheat the oven until the stone reaches 400˚C.
You can check the temperature on the baking stone quickly and easily using the Ooni Infrared Thermometer.
For the toppings
1. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the top of the dough.
Press your fingers firmly into the dough to create dimples.
2. Top with a little more olive oil and salt to taste.
3. Bring the heat of the oven down by reducing the fire to a low flame – if using gas, turn to the lowest setting.
4. Place the sheet pan at the very front of the oven.
Cook the pizza for 6 minutes, or until the top of the pizza is golden. Be sure to keep an eye on the pizza as it cooks and rotate the tray while baking in order to cook the pizza evenly.
5. Once cooked, remove the pizza from the oven and finish with extra salt if desired.
6. Remove from the pan, slice and serve right away!.
Remove from the pan, slice and serve right away!
