Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust

Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust

This sourdough discard pizza dough recipe transforms your leftover sourdough starter into a deliciously tangy pizza crust perfect for any toppings. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this recipe makes two 10" - 12" pizza crusts using either a pizza stone or a cast iron skillet. The dough can be topped with anything from classic mozzarella and basil to more adventurous combinations.

Ingredients

  • 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sourdough discard
  • 1 cup room temperature water
  • 2 tsp olive oil

    plus more for brushing dough before putting it in the oven

  • 1 tsp salt

Directions

  1. 1

    In a large bowl, mix together the water, sourdough discard, salt, and oil. Mix until combined.

  2. 2

     Add the flour slowly, about ½ cup at a time, and mix it in using a whisk.

  3. 3

    When the dough becomes too difficult to mix with a whisk, use your hands to combine it until it has a shaggy consistency, but all ingredients are fully incorporated.

  4. 4

    Cover the dough with plastic wrap, and let it sit for 6-8 hours or overnight at room temperature. The dough should double in size, and you will see bubbles if you use a glass bowl.

  5. 5

    Once the dough doubles in size, perform one set of stretch and folds. Pull up a piece of the dough and stretch it over the top of the dough ball. Turn the bowl and repeat until the whole ball of dough is folded. 

  6. 6

    Cover the dough and place it in the fridge for 1–4 hours. Note that you can skip the refrigeration if time does not allow. If you do skip the refrigeration, then the bulk ferment in Step 4 is even more important and you may need to allow a bit more time. See Note 1.

  7. 7

    Remove the dough from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes.

  8. 8

    Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface. Then, divide the dough into two halves and roll each half into a disk shape. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough until it becomes a circle approximately 1/4 inch thick. If required, you may use your hands to stretch the dough after rolling it out so that it maintains a circular form.

  9. 9

    Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a pizza stone in the oven while it preheats. This will ensure the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted to perfection. See Note for tips on baking the pizza in a cast iron pan instead of on a baking stone.

  10. 10

    Once the oven is heated, using oven mitts, cautiously remove the pizza stone and sprinkle some flour or cornmeal on it. Then, carefully place your prepared dough on the stone. 

  11. 11

    Add your toppings to the pizza and bake for 10–15 minutes. Turn oven to broil, and broil for 2 minutes to brown the crust and toppings.

  12. 12

    Let the pizza cool slightly before cutting and enjoy!

Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust

Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust

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What you need to make this recipe...: ...a sourdough starter. Ideally, you want to use your starter 4 to 6 hours after you feed it, when it has doubled in volume and is very bubbly and active. Here are three sources: Breadtopia King Arthur Flour Cultures for Health ...time. Once your starter is ready to go, this recipe requires an initial 6 - 18 hour rise, followed by at least 6 hours in the fridge or up to 3 days.  Timing/Schedule: The more I make sourdough, the more I realize that the timing of each bake depends so much on the time of year and the temperature of my kitchen. In the summer, because it is warm and humid, the first rise (bulk fermentation) of all my sourdoughs takes between 6 - 8 hours; in the winter it will take longer, 10 to 12 hours. It is best to rely on visual cues. For the bulk fermentation, you want the dough to double or less than double: I now end my bulk fermentation when the dough has risen by 50% to 75% in volume. This is why I cannot recommend using a straight-sided vessel  (as opposed to a bowl) enough. It makes gauging the first rise easier. If at any point you are worried the dough will over-ferment — say, for example, the bulk fermentation is nearly complete but you are tired and want to go to bed — stick the vessel in the fridge and pick up the process in the morning. (Note: If your dough rises above double, don't despair ... my dough has tripled in volume during an overnight rise, and the resulting dough still had plenty of strength and spring.) Schedule: I like mixing this dough in the evening, performing 4 stretch and folds before I go to bed (if time permits), then letting the dough complete its bulk fermentation at room temperature (68ºF) overnight or in the refrigerator (especially in the summer, when my kitchen is much warmer). In the morning, it's typically ready to be portioned (if it rose at room temperature), transferred to quart containers, and stashed in the fridge. If I had let my dough spend time in the fridge for the bulk fermentation, I remove it in the morning, and let it complete its bulk fermentation at room temperature. Once complete, I portion the dough and stash it in the fridge. Sometimes I'll use the dough that same evening; sometimes I'll use it the following day or the next. I encourage using the dough within 3 days.  In short: If you want pizza for the weekend, mix your dough on either Wednesday or Thursday.  Troubleshooting: If you have issues with your dough being too sticky, please read this post: Why is my sourdough so sticky? The 4 common mistakes. Water: If you live in a humid environment or if you are making this on a particularly humid day, consider starting with less water, such as 335 grams of water, which will bring the hydration down to 70%. This amount of water will still produce a light airy crust but the dough will be more manageable.  Flour choice:  Due to supply issues, I've been making this recipe with all-purpose flour, and it works beautifully. You absolutely can use bread flour or tipo 00 flour if you can get your hands on either. If you can't, know that all-purpose (unbleached) flour works great here. If you use 00 flour, you'll likely need to reduce the amount of water. I would start with 350 g, and adjust moving forward based on your results.  Favorite Pizza-Making Tools: Baking Steel Pizza Peel Parchment Paper: I bake my pizzas on parchment paper on my Baking Steel. Parchment allows for easy transfer from peel to steel.  Cast Iron Skillet: If you do not have a Steel or stone, you can use a cast iron skillet. Rub a half teaspoon of oil over its surface, transfer a stretched dough round to the skillet. Top as desired. Bake at 450ºF for about 15 minutes.  Quart Containers for storing dough

25 hours4 servings

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About this Recipe

Tired of letting your sourdough discard go to waste? This Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust recipe offers a brilliant way to transform it into a deliciously tangy foundation for your next homemade pizza night. Prepare to elevate your weeknight meals or weekend gatherings with ease and incredible flavor.

This recipe works by harnessing the unique tang and subtle yeasty notes of your sourdough discard, imparting a depth of flavor that standard pizza dough often lacks. The simple combination of all-purpose flour, water, olive oil, and salt comes together to create a versatile dough, making two generous 10-inch to 12-inch crusts. It’s a smart and satisfying way to reduce waste while enjoying exceptional pizza.

What you can expect is a pizza crust with a delightful tang, perfectly balanced by its robust texture. This crust serves as an ideal canvas, ready to be topped with anything your heart desires, from classic flavors to more creative concoctions. Whether you're a seasoned sourdough baker or new to working with discard, this straightforward recipe simplifies the process, making gourmet-quality pizza at home entirely achievable.

This versatile sourdough discard pizza crust welcomes a world of toppings, allowing you to create anything from a simple Margherita to a loaded supreme. Experiment with different sauces, cheeses, and fresh vegetables or meats to suit your taste, making each pizza uniquely yours. The crust's inherent tang pairs wonderfully with both rich and bright flavors.

Crafted for convenience, this recipe is perfect for a fun family dinner or for entertaining friends, as it yields two sizable pizzas. Serve them hot straight from your pizza stone or cast iron skillet, ensuring everyone gets a slice of this homemade delight.

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