Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe for a Relaxed Family Dinner

There is something satisfying about making pizza at home. You get to choose the toppings, adjust the amount of cheese and, best of all, eat it straight from the oven while it is still hot.

You do not need fancy cooking skills either. A few basic ingredients and some patience are enough to make a really good homemade pizza.

Ingredients You Will Need

For the dough:

• 300g strong white bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 7g dried yeast
• 200ml warm water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the topping:

• 150ml tomato passata
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 150g grated mozzarella
• Fresh basil
• Your choice of toppings

Pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, onions and cooked chicken all work well. You can also keep things simple with tomato, mozzarella and basil.

Start With the Dough

Add the flour, salt, sugar and yeast to a large mixing bowl.

Pour in the warm water and olive oil, then mix everything together until a rough dough forms.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for around eight to ten minutes.

You are looking for a dough that feels smooth and elastic.

It may feel sticky at first. Do not immediately add loads of flour. A little stickiness is normal, and adding too much flour can leave the finished pizza heavy rather than light.

Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a clean tea towel.

Leave it somewhere warm for about an hour, or until it has roughly doubled in size.

Prepare the Sauce

You do not need to cook an elaborate pizza sauce.

Mix the passata with oregano and a small pinch of salt. That is enough.

If you like garlic, add a little crushed garlic. A small amount of black pepper can work too.

The sauce should not be overly thick because it will cook again in the oven.

Shape Your Pizza

Once the dough has risen, tip it onto a floured surface and gently knock out some of the air.

Divide it into two portions if you want two medium pizzas.

Roll or stretch each piece into a rough circle. Do not worry if it is not perfectly round. That homemade shape is part of the fun.

Transfer the dough onto a baking tray or pizza stone. Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce across the surface, leaving a small border around the edge.

Add the mozzarella and your chosen toppings. Try not to overload it.

Too many toppings can make the centre soggy and prevent the crust from becoming crisp.

Bake Until Golden

Heat your oven as high as it will safely go. A very hot oven helps create a better crust.

Bake the pizza for around ten to fifteen minutes, depending on your oven and the thickness of the dough.

Keep an eye on the edges. You want the crust to be golden and the cheese bubbling.

Once it is ready, let it rest for a minute or two before slicing.

Add fresh basil just before serving.

Make Pizza Night More Fun

Homemade pizza can easily become a family activity.

Put the toppings into separate bowls and let everyone create their own pizza. Children can choose their favourite ingredients, while adults can experiment with combinations they would not normally order.

It also works nicely as part of a relaxed weekend evening.

After dinner, you could settle down for a film or play a game together. If you need affordable tech or entertainment for evenings at home, Own4Less is another option worth exploring.

Simple Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Once you have mastered the basic recipe, there is plenty of room to experiment.

Try adding chilli flakes for heat, roasted vegetables for extra flavour or a little pesto after baking.

You could even make a white pizza using olive oil, garlic and mozzarella instead of tomato sauce.
The best part is that there are no strict rules.

Make the crust thin or thick. Add plenty of cheese or keep it light. Use classic toppings or clear out whatever vegetables are left in the fridge.

That is the beauty of homemade pizza.

It does not have to look perfect.

It just needs to taste good.