Grandma's Pizza

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 2 pizzas
Advertisement

Ingredients

Dough:

2 1/2 cups flour (I'm using bread flour but you could use all-purpose)

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon instant yeast or 1/2 ounce fresh yeast

Extra-virgin olive oil, for the baking sheets

Sauce:

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes (San Marzano if possible)

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

10 leaves fresh basil

3 cloves garlic

Kosher salt

Topping:

12 ounces mozzarella (fresh if possible), sliced or shredded

Cracked black pepper

Chile flakes, for sprinkling, optional

Grated Parmesan, for sprinkling

12 leaves fresh basil

Directions

  1. For the dough: Combine the flour, salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Stir to combine, then add 1 cup water. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together into a rough ball. Continue mixing at medium-low speed until the dough forms a smooth, silky ball, about 10 minutes. Form the dough into a tight ball, set in the bottom of the mixer bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place until the dough has roughly doubled in size, about an hour.
  2. Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
  3. Cut the dough in half; you should have enough for two 9-by-13-inch baking sheets. You can make both pizzas now, or hold the dough in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  4. Lightly oil one or two 9-by-13-inch baking sheets. Add the dough and press down on it to spread it toward the edges. You won't be able to get it all the way to the edges, so spread it as much as you can without tearing. If the dough isn't stretching well, cover and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, then stretch again. 
  5. For the sauce: Put the tomatoes, olive oil, basil, garlic and some salt in a blender and puree until smooth.
  6. For the topping: Spread the sauce all the way to the corners of the dough. Top the sauce with the mozzarella and sprinkle with black pepper and chile flakes if using. Bake until the dough is crisp and the cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Top with the basil and some Parmesan and serve.

Cook’s Note

For more ingredient substitution ideas, see the article below.

Let's Get Cooking!

Sign up for the Recipe of the Day newsletter to receive editor-picked recipes,tips and videos delivered to your inbox daily. Privacy Policy

Thanks for subscribing to the Recipe of the Day newsletter. Check out all our other great newsletters from Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos.

We're sorry, there was an error signing you up. Please try again later.

Advertisement

michaelgostan

Excellent recipe, but a couple steps are out of order. If you’re really making a “grandma pie” the cheese goes down first, then the sauce gets spotted on top, not spread evenly. It’ll taste amazing wither way, but that’s the traditional version.

See All Reviews