Pizza dough, What am I doing wrong???

[ItsTony]

Hi all,

I've recently ventured into making my own pizza. I've got a recipe for dough but can't seem to get a decent looking pizza. It's just very flat and dull looking.

I make the dough, roll it into balls, then let it rise until it's big a full of air. I then proceed to floor the table and roll out the dough to the desired size. I like them thin so I've been rolling them thin. Then I use put the dough into a thin pizza pan and top the pizza before putting it into the oven. I've tried all sorts of different methods such as pizza stones etc, but my pizza just comes out the same thickness all the way round and without much air in it. It's just not very bread like with pockets of air that make the dough softer.

Any ideas???

Thanks

[grumbledoak]

After you've rolled it out, put it on an oiled tray and leave it to rise again.

hth.

[Doniger]

Let it rise twice. Could also be that your yeast/flour ratio isn't right.

[Mighty Flex]

my current technique involves leaving it rise for a few hours (out of any draughts) rolling out on paper (I cba to stretch it) leave to rise for maybe another half hour (again out of any draughts), put it in the oven on a tray for a couple of minutes, top it, then slide it off the tray (but still on the paper to stop it falling through the gaps) onto the oven shelf.
then when it's done it will be of a good general texture, and not soggy at all from the topping (without being tough)

the other solution is to get a proper pizza oven...

[The Walrus]

Put your plate or stone in for a 5 to 10 minutes then roll your base, take out the stone or plate add some oil and put your base on, you will now when you have got it right as the base will bubble and start to cook as soon as it touches the plate / stone.

The key as other have stated is the heat coming through the base of the tray so try to part bake it if you are not getting the desired effect then finish off on the rack to allow heat through the base.

Try Jamie Olivers pizza plates (can't stand the guy but the plates work) or other terracota style plates which have helped my bases no end, but I like them thin, flat and crispy.

[thegreengoblet]

grumbledoak said:

After you've rolled it out, put it on an oiled tray and leave it to rise again.

hth.

WHS. I would only add that you should cover it with a damp tea-towel.