The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 7 JULY 2019 | Page 7

COOKIN’ FOR DA SOUL
A Slice of the Homemade Pizza Life
Ingredients:
• 3- 1/2 to 4 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 envelope instant dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups water, 110 degrees F
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons
Plus whatever toppings you choose
• Combine the bread flour, sugar, yeast and kosher
salt in the bowl of a Kitchen Aid mixer (can be done
by hand in a glass bowl) and combine. While the
mixer is running, add the water and 2 tablespoons
of the oil and beat until the dough forms into a ball. If
the dough is sticky, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon
at a time, until the dough comes together in a solid
ball. If the dough is too dry, add additional water, 1
tablespoon at a time.
• Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and
gently knead into a smooth, firm ball.
Grease a large bowl with the remaining 2 teaspoons
Fabulous Delicious Crust
Photo by Chef Derrek
D’s Tips
Chef D’s Note: Using bread flour will give you a much
crisper crust. If you can’t find bread flour, you can
substitute it with all-purpose flour which will give you
a chewier crust.
olive oil, add the dough, cover the bowl with plastic
wrap and put it in a warm area to let it double in size,
about 1 hour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface
and divide it into 2 equal pieces. Cover each with a
clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rest
for 10 minutes.
• Roll pizza dough out to the size of
either a cast iron skillet, pizza stone or
baking sheet (If using a baking sheet
beware, it will cook a little faster so
you’ll need to keep an eye on it)
• Put your favorite sauce and toppings
on and put into a preheated 500-degree
oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden
brown and cheese is melted.
I am Chef Derrek Brown, with
Cookin’ for da Soul, I thank all of
the pizza lovers for having SOUL!,
Learn more about Chef D and his
delicious recipes at
http://www.thesoultown.com/
cookin-for-da-soul.html
SAN FRANCISCO - I try different homemade pizza
crusts all the time, however, I always come back to
this recipe. What I love about this pizza crust is that
it doesn’t require that
long resting period
like most yeast pizza
crusts, but you still get
the full flavor.
This homemade
pizza crust is fabulous!
It has the perfect
thickness, crispiness,
and yeastiness!
Don’t let that long
recipe scare you. CHEF DERREK
This is a recipe I use Cookin’ For da Soul
with my students of all
ages and they are always amazed at how easy and
delicious it is. Once you make it, you’ll be whipping
it up by heart in no time for your friends and family.
Feel free to use your favorite ingredients like
pepperoni and sausage or try doing something
different like prosciutto and fennel. Get creative and
try making a BBQ chicken pizza. Simply replace the
marinara with your favorite BBQ sauce and you’ll
have a new favorite! Follow your taste buds and you
won’t be disappointed.
July 2019 • The Soultown International Magazine • Celebrating 2 years • Connecting Our Cultures to Our Cyber & Conscious Communities • thesoultown.com
7