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Homemade Pizza Crust & Pizza Sauce

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I did it! I finally figured out how to make good pizza crust! Well… good by my standards ;).

My poor husband has suffered through partially uncooked pizza crust, insanely thick and dense crust, and crust so thin it just falls apart.

In case you forgot… my husband loves pizza. You can read all about his love for pizza here.

A few weeks back I purchased some Fleischmann’s Pizza Crust Yeast.

I was hesitant to use it. I wanted to use the regular yeast because I wanted to do it right.

I prefer a whole wheat crust, but since I’d messed up so many times I decided to try it with regular flour first.

Even though the package says you don’t have to let the dough rise, I stuck in the fridge for a few hours… and boy did it rise!

When I presented this pizza to my husband he was a little worried.

After the first bite… he LOVED it!!

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Not only did I score with the crust, but my neighbor gave me a great recipe for homemade pizza sauce.

This was my first time making pizza sauce from scratch…. it was so good!

I doubled the recipe to fit the massive pizza dough I had just made.

At first I thought it was a tad salty, but I trusted the recipe and left it as is.

I’m so glad I didn’t change the recipe! Aside from a great crust, the sauce really made the pizza!

Oh, and feta cheese. We love feta cheese in our house and a pizza wouldn’t be complete without it.

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Pizza Crust:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 envelope Fleischmann’s PIzza Crust Yeast
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2/3 cup very warm water
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Combine flour, salt, and yeast in a mixer with the hook attachment.

Slowly add the water in, then the olive oil. Mix at low speed until a soft dough is formed. The dough will be sticky.

Let it knead in the mixer for about 4-5 minutes.

Take a medium sized bowl and drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil so it coats the inside of the bowl.

Form the dough into a ball and place into the oiled bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

Once the dough is ready, just shape into whatever shape you like. This works great for a 12 inch round pizza or a big rectangle shape.

Add your sauce and toppings and bake for 12 – 15 minutes. Crust should be golden brown.

Pizza Sauce:

  • 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp onion salt

Mix all ingredients and let stand for a while. I made this after I made the pizza dough. While the dough was rising in the fridge, I let the sauce sit. I also doubled this recipe to fit my pizza crust.

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Question of the Day?

What are your favorite pizza toppings? My favorite is a greek pizza with red onion, kalamata olives, feta, and banana peppers! YUM!

36 Responses

  1. Jessica @ How Sweet said on February 23, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    That pizza looks so delish. While I love our wheat crust, a really good white crust is just what I’m craving sometimes. I love just plain cheese, but of course I also love bacon. 😉

  2. Heather (Heather's Dish) said on February 23, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    um, this sounds amazing! i love hawaiian pizza and bbq pizza, but the best toppings are sausage, mushrooms, black olives, and onions. you just can’t go wrong 🙂

  3. Kalli@fitandfortysomething said on February 23, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    That pic is making my mouth water!

  4. katie said on February 23, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    WOW looks aweesome girl! ive been loving me some home made pizzas lately!

  5. Kelly @ Healthy Passion said on February 23, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    That looks yum! I am so impressed by people who make their own pizza crust! I always just by the frozen GF kind (Udi’s…is really good BTW).

  6. Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman said on February 23, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    Oh this is just what I needed. The last time I made pizza the crust wasn’t cooked enough. Yuck. I tried making it without sauce and just with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. So soggy! I need to follow your recipe.

  7. Jacquie said on February 23, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    YUMMM! I love pizza, but I’m so picky because my dad grills our dough and since we make it ourselves (like you do), it’s never greasy. This looks perfect 🙂

    My favorite is just veggies like tomatoes, spinach, onion, fennel and pepper. Mmmm

  8. Joanna said on February 23, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    I am totally craving pizza now. This post inspires me to attempt hand-made pizza dough but it just seems so daunting…

  9. Christie @ Honoring Health said on February 23, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    I love pizza! It is probably one of my favorite foods! I am making portabella pizza tonight but haven’t decided on the toppings yet.

  10. Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) said on February 23, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    I just made home-made pizza last weekend – it was delicious!!! It will be a regular appearance in our house I think!

  11. eatmovelove said on February 23, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    How have I have been to your site more often?!! Seriously. Great stuff 🙂

  12. Nicole, RD said on February 23, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    That looks WONDERFUL! Pizza crust is tough! And by tough I mean that it requires some fore-thought 🙂

    Toppings? Pepperoni! I’m bad, I know! I also love arugula and onion and bell pepper and garlic…I like it all! Mushrooms too! LOVE mushrooms on pizza!

  13. Jocelyn @ Peace.Love.Nutrition said on February 23, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    That Pizza looks delicious!! I love pineapple and Ham on my pizzas! OR if I’m going for a healthier version I love broccoli!

    xo

    Jocelyn

  14. Simply Life said on February 23, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    great looking pizza!

  15. Gelareh @ Nutritious Foodie said on February 23, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    oh my goodness this looks amazing. I love all veggies… no discremenation.. on my pizza

  16. Danielle (Coffee Run) said on February 23, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    The pizza looks great 😀 I was thinking of making a pizza this week- I’m going to use this recipe for the sauce!
    My favorite toppings are roasted veggies, brussels in particular

  17. Dan said on February 23, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    One of my all time favourites to chow down on! I love your pics…once I stop drooling over your pizza I’m going to whip one up with some artichokes and mushrooms- YUM!

  18. luvtoeat said on February 23, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    wow that pizza looks fabulous. i luv luv luv pizza. my favorite toppings are mushrooms, olives (any kind), spinach, and smoked baby oysters. thanks for the recipe…will have to give it a try.

  19. Anne @ the doctor takes a wife said on February 23, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Ooh I’m excited to try this!! Last time I made homemade pizza crust, hubby wasn’t a huge fan. And he shouldn’t have been–it was like cardboard. I love ham and pineapple. Or mushrooms and pepperoni 🙂

  20. megan said on February 23, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    yum! I love homemade pizza, but i’ve never really succeeded with a homemade crust. sadly, i tend to fall back on the betty crocker just add water mix! how sad is that?? I’ll have to try this for sure!

  21. Stef said on February 23, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    yumsy! fresh basil is my fave pizza topping for sure

  22. The Health Dude said on February 23, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    “Health is wealth” is well known to all and everyone wants good health.So, Let us build a food habit discipline, keep pace with work, rest and exercise to Achieve good health, The ultimate wealth.

  23. lynn @ the actors diet said on February 24, 2010 at 2:20 am

    feta on pizza is terrific! my fave pizza toppings are shrooms and spinach, cause that’s what i grew up ordering.

  24. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said on February 24, 2010 at 2:53 am

    OMG that just looks soooo delightful, i want it!!!!!

  25. Jenn (www.j3nn.net) said on February 24, 2010 at 6:02 am

    Oooh, that pizza looks fantabulous! My hub and I love pizza, too. Never heard of crust yeast, interesting. I’ll pick some up if I see it. 🙂

    Jenn

  26. Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) said on February 24, 2010 at 7:06 am

    BRAVO! I cannot tell you the last time I’ve made pizza but you are inspiring me! I’m a huge fan of sun dried tomatoes on my pizza…and red onion…and black olives…and….

  27. Jess (Fit Chick in the City) said on February 24, 2010 at 7:16 am

    Okay, so I have that very same yeast sitting in my kitchen waiting for the perfect pizza crust recipe. Thank you for sharing! My favorite toppings are mushrooms and olives.

  28. Andrea @ CanYouStayForDinner.com said on February 24, 2010 at 9:00 am

    Oh my God, yummmm. Your pizza looks positively delicious! I would love to try that! My favorite toppings are peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Thanks for the recipe!

  29. Ameena said on February 24, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Back when I could eat pizza I loved feta, avocado, olives and mozarella. CPK has a Greek pizza that you should check out. I think you would LOVE it too!

  30. Beth @ DiningAndDishing said on February 24, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    I love pizza LOADED with veggies. Every single veg tastes especially good on top of a pizza to me 🙂

  31. Lu said on February 24, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    That picture justifies my need to have pizza. Yes, need. My favorite toppings are feta, sundried tomatoes, olives, and spinach. Yummy!

  32. Jenny said on February 24, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    This looks like one heckuva pizza! I know it’s might powerful- it’s induced serious pizza cravings. I just might have to indulge in my favorite: white pizza with garlic and olive oil, sauteed spinach, fresh vine ripened tomatoes, kalamata olives, fresh mozzerella and basil leaves.

    I must say, though, that Greek pizza comes in a VERY close second. Heck, who’s to say I can’t go halfsies(and people say being single stinks- ha!)?

    In a pinch, Garlic Naan makes an excellent pizza crust, too!

  33. Cajun Chef Ryan said on February 24, 2010 at 12:48 pm

    This is one great pizza here, the dough/crust and the toppings are great!

  34. Mo@MommyRD said on February 25, 2010 at 8:22 am

    Holy wow, does that pizza look fabulous!

    My favorite toppings are a spread of goat cheese, roasted red bell pepper, heirloom tomato, and arugula. Mmmm…now I’m really craving a good homemade pizza.

  35. Carissa @ Fit To Indulge said on February 25, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Mmmmm.. I’ve only bought the ‘dough in a bag’ from Trader Joe’s. I want to try this though. And marinara from scratch.. that sounds like a home run! I love how you’re using all those spices (onion salt, garlic powder) 😉 *Note to self, bookmark Estela’s pizza recipe*

  36. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) said on February 25, 2010 at 11:08 am

    Yay, you found the right crust!!! That makes a world of difference! Um, favorite toppings would have to be fresh red pepper, fresh green pepper, onion and hummus! So good. Yours looks delicious!

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