The best pizza dough

We checked how pizza dough is made by famous pizza masters from Naples like Enzo Coccia, Ciro Coccia, Franco Pepe and Enzo Piccirillo to find out their tips and tricks for making the best pizza dough.

In this article, we''ll reveal the secrets of their recipes and give you some basic steps to making the perfect pizza dough.

1. Choosing the right pizza flour

The first step in making pizza dough is choosing the right flour. How do I choose the right pizza flour? The best choice is flour type 00, which is suitable for all types of sweet and savoury dishes. This flour is derived from soft wheat and is ideal for making pizza dough.

However, you can also mix different types of flour, such as wholemeal flour, which requires a longer rising time due to its high fibre and nutrient content.

2. The importance of dough autolysis

Autolysis is a process that is crucial for the development of gluten in dough. In autolysis, water and flour are first mixed and the dough is left to rest. This allows the enzymes in the flour to break down the protein and starch, creating a network of gluten bonds. The gluten bonds then trap the carbon dioxide, making the dough elastic and bubbly.

Autolysis is a fundamental step in making elastic and bubbly dough, which is the key to a good pizza.

3. Kneading and rising the dough

After autolysis, it is time to add the yeast and salt and knead the dough. Kneading is an important step as it creates elasticity and structure in the dough. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is completely shiny. The dough then rises. The rising time depends on how the dough is treated. If you have prepared the dough by hand, leave it to rise for 6-8 hours at room temperature.

If you have prepared the dough using a mixer, let it rise for 2 hours on a work surface covered with a cloth.

4. The secrets of a real Napolitano pizza

The Napolitano pizza has a few characteristics that make it unique. When we talk about Napolitano pizza, we cannot ignore its characteristic crust, which is 1-2 cm high and 0,4 cm thick. A real Napolitano pizza should be soft, elastic and easy to fold. Once baked, it should be eaten within the next four minutes. The taste should be authentic, similar to freshly baked bread, with slightly acidic notes of tomato and a delicate taste of slightly melted mozzarella, enriched with fresh basil, oregano and sometimes garlic.

5. Preparing the pizza dough

To prepare the pizza dough you will need water, salt, yeast and flour. For 6 loaves of dough, use 0,5 litres of water, 25 grams of salt, 2 grams of yeast and 900-950 grams of flour type 00. Pour the water into a large bowl, add the salt and yeast, then gradually add the flour. Knead the dough with firm movements until it becomes soft and elastic. When the dough is ready, cover it and leave it to rest for 10 minutes.

Then divide the dough into 6 loaves and leave them to rise at room temperature for 6-8 hours.

6. Preparing and baking pizza

When the dough is ready, roll it out on a lightly floured surface and shape it into the pizza you want. Spread the tomato sauce, salt, basil and mozzarella on the dough and bake in a preheated oven at 250 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes.

After baking, serve the pizza immediately and enjoy the tasty bites.

7. A few more tricks for the best pizza:

• Choose the best ingredients, such as fresh tomatoes, quality mozzarella and fresh spices.

• Use enough salt to bring out the flavour of the ingredients.

• Remember to plan the dough rising time, as this is the key to a good quality pizza.

• Use a well heated oven and a good quality pizza stone or baking tray.

  
  

• Remember to plan the dough and rising time as this will affect the quality and taste of the pizza.

  
  

  
  By choosing the right flour, kneading and rising it correctly and using the best ingredients you can achieve results that are close to a napolitana pizza. Follow the tips and tricks of top pizza makers and enjoy the delicious results of homemade pizza. Don''t forget that making pizza is a fun activity to share with friends and family.

So why not try making your favourite pizza today?