Wholemeal Pizza

Now I don't know how you like your pizza but I sure do like mine soft, light and fluffy. Or thinner with a bit of crisp. Plenty of topping. Spice and cheese. This pizza has it all. A favourite that's run in the family for years. Served to hundreds of people and so many *she says unboastfully* have complimented that it's the best they've tried. However I can't take credit- this is my dads recipe. I just changed it to wholemeal.

However I will admit, a few don't like it because it's too thick or too 'dough-y'. But then just make it thinner when you're rolling it out. Plus, that means more pizza. So it works either way.

Yes, this is a pizza recipe. but everyone knows how to top a pizza. What we'e really here for is the dough. So technically, it's a pizza dough recipe. I've tried to include as many photos to give you an idea of how it should look, because making dough is not easy and requires skill and practice and most importantly: experience. Or sheer beginners luck. Same thing.

I hope you like this recipe and get the result you're hoping for.

Wholemeal Pizza (dough )

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1 small cup luke warm water ( it is essential the temperature is right otherwise the yeast will not be activated. It should feel warm when you dip you're finger in but no warmer )

• 35g fresh yeast ( you can use dry but it won't give as high results when using wholemeal- but still delicious! )

• 1tsp sugar

• 1tbsp olive oil

• 265g wholemeal flour

• 88g strong white bread flour

• pinch salt

Toppings

• tomato sauce ( recipe below )

• toppings ( chorizo/pepperoni, peppers, onions etc. )

• seasoning ( salt, black pepper and I use a little paprika before placing the pizza in the oven )

• thyme, parmesan and hot sauce( like tabasco ), to serve (optional - I just like to accessories my pizza )

Method

- Start by adding the water to a clean, large, glass/metal bowl.

- Add in the oil and sugar then stir to dissolve. crumble in the yeast and stir it briefly. Leave the yeast to activate for 5-7 minutes.

- Combine the dry together in a large bowl. Add handfuls of the flour to the yeast mix, whisking with a fork between every addition.

- Add in the salt.

- Keep adding flour until it gets to firm to whisk and you have to start using your hands. This is where it starts to get tough.

- Really put some elbow grease into it and work the dough. Keep adding flour if it's just sticking to your fingers and you can't do anything.

- Once the dough firms up, remove it from the bowl and knead on a floured work surface. My method is:

Roll the dough into a ball

Roll it into a sausage shape

fold in either edge of the sausage into the middle.

Repeat

- Keep doing this and adding flour so its no longer sticking to your hands and only feels slightly dam/sticky ( it will never be completely dry feeling as we're using mainly wholemeal flour )

- Once it's ready, roll the dough into a ball and slam it against the counter. You don't have to do this but it improves the texture. you can stop slamming the dough when it starts to make a 'smacking' noise against the counter.

- Add the dough to the bowl you used to make it in and punch a hole in the middle of the dough. Sprinkle flour over the top and cover with a damp tea towel.

- Place the bowl in a warm area ( I use the cupboard with the boiler in ) and let it rise for 1hour +, until it's doubled it's size.

- When the dough has finished rising, preheat the oven to 200 degrees, fan. Grease a couple of pizza trays

- Bring the dough together and knead it, adding some extra flour if it feels sticky.

- Divide the dough into to portions and roll them into a smooth ball. Cover the balls and rolling pin with flour before rolling them out not circles to your desired thickness.

- Spread with the sauce ( Recipe below ) and leave it while you do the other pizza.

*At this stage, I let the dough rise for an extra 10-15 minutes, just to get some extra air into it, but you can just whack on the cheese and toppings then stick in the oven and BAM, you've got yourself one hefty pizza.

My Favourite Combos

Vege Supreme- Roasted red peppers, aubergine, sun- blushed tomatoes, grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese, pesto and rocket

Hot and Spicy- Caramelised red onions, jalepenos, rocket peppers, spicy chicken, rocket and hot sauce/relish