Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe

Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe

4 servings
A no-fuss sourdough pizza crust recipe that's crispy, chewy and perfectly charred on top and bottom. An easy overnight dough that holds all your favorite toppings and bakes to perfection every time!

Ingredients

  • sourdough starter discard

    if you would like to use active starter reduce to 1/4 cup (50 g

    ⅓ c
  • fine sea salt

    see notes if using a different type of salt

    2 tsp
  • olive oil
    2 tbsp
  • + 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
    ⅓ c
  • all-purpose flour

    bread flour or 00 flour can be used, see notes

    3 ¾ c
  • + 1 teaspoon water

    see notes

    1 ⅓ c
  • pizza sauce
  • homemade pesto
  • your choice of toppings

Directions

How to make sourdough pizza in a cast iron skillet

  1. 1

    The night before you want to bake: Add 1/3 cup sourdough starter discard, 2 teaspoons fine sea salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour, 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, and 1 1/3 cups + 1 teaspoon water to a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until fully combined. Cover and let the dough ferment at room temperature overnight.

  2. 2

    The next morning: Perform a set of stretch and folds to strengthen the dough. Wet your hand with water to prevent sticking. While keeping the dough in the bowl, gently pull one side up and fold it over itself. Rotate the bowl and repeat on all sides until you've completed a full circle. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 8 to 36 hours. The dough can be used immediately to make your pizza, but the cold ferment is optional and will help develop more flavor.

  3. 3

    When ready to cook: Remove the dough from the fridge and let it rest on the counter for 30 minutes at room temperature. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Shape each portion into a ball on a generously floured work surface. Cover the dough with a tea towel and let them rest for 30 minutes.

  4. 4

    Turn on your oven's broiler to HIGH. On a stovetop heat a cast iron skillet over medium to medium-high heat. If needed, lightly oil the cast iron skillet to prevent sticking.

  5. 5

    While the skillet is preheating, press a dough ball into an 8" circle on a floured surface using your hands. Use more flour as needed to prevent sticking. (If the dough is difficult to shape, let it rest for 15 minutes on the counter to allow the gluten to relax.)

  6. 6

    When the skillet is hot, lay the circle of dough in it. VERY carefully use your fingers to press the edges of the dough to cover the bottom of the skillet. Immediately add the sauce and toppings to the crust and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the bottom of the crust starts to char. TIP: If the dough is too thick, you will need to cook it longer on the stovetop at a lower temperature to ensure the crust cooks through properly. You can also try putting it under the broiler for a few minutes before adding the toppings to help it cook through and avoid the "gum line" in the center.

  7. 7

    Once the bottom has turned brown and charred, transfer the cast iron skillet to the broiler to finish baking the top of the pizza for 2-4 minutes. Remove from the oven, slice, and serve hot. Make sure to keep an eye on it to prevent the toppings from burning, as broiler temperatures can vary. Every oven is different, so individual results may vary.

How to bake sourdough pizza on a pizza stone

  1. 1

    Place the pizza stone in a cold oven and preheat it to 450°F (232°C) Press the dough into a crust and add your desired toppings. (The dough can be divided into 4 personal-sized pizzas or 2 larger pizzas.)

  2. 2

    Once the oven and pizza stone are heated, carefully use a pizza peel to transfer the dough directly onto the pizza stone. Be sure to move quickly to avoid the dough from losing its shape. Alternatively, you can shape the pizza on a piece of parchment paper and then transfer it to the baking stone.

  3. 3

    Bake the pizza for 15-20 minutes or until the toppings are done and the crust is cooked through.

Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe

Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe

5.0(783)1220 min4 servings541 cal

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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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littlespoonfarm.com
5.0(783 reviews)
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About this Recipe

Dreaming of the perfect homemade pizza with a crust that truly stands out? This Sourdough Pizza Crust recipe delivers an irresistible crispy-chewy texture and incredible flavor, making every bite a delight.

What makes this recipe special is its easy overnight dough, which allows the sourdough starter to work its magic, developing deep, complex flavors. The result is a perfectly charred crust that's robust enough to hold all your favorite toppings without getting soggy.

You can expect a pizza crust that boasts a delightful tang from the sourdough, complemented by a subtle richness from olive oil. It bakes up golden brown with a bubbly, airy interior and a satisfyingly crisp exterior. While the dough takes an overnight rest, the active prep and cook times are minimal, making it a rewarding project for a weekend or even a weeknight if you plan ahead. This recipe yields a sturdy, flavorful base for any pizza creation.

Customize your pizza experience by using different flours; the recipe allows for bread flour or 00 flour in place of all-purpose flour for varied textures. You can also easily swap your sourdough starter discard for active starter as noted in the ingredients. Load up with classic pizza sauce, homemade pesto, and your choice of delicious toppings.

This Sourdough Pizza Crust is ideal for a memorable family dinner, a fun pizza night with friends, or any occasion where a truly special main course is called for. It’s the perfect canvas for culinary creativity.

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