Mediterranean Pizza

Pizza Toppings

  • California Ripe Olives
  • Spinach
  • Fresh Basil
  • Fresh shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper

Ingredients for Pizza Dough

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons instant or active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/4 cups + 3 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

  1. Combine the flour, salt, and yeast in a bowl. Stir to combine. Add the water and olive oil and stir until a lumpy, yet well-mixed dough forms. Shift dough onto a floured surface.
  2. Knead dough for approx. 8 minutes.
  3. After the kneading is finished, divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Using floured hands, gently shape each piece into a ball shape. Set each dough ball on a floured surface, dabbing with a bit of olive oil to keep it moist. Cover with a damp towel and allow them to rise until doubled in size, about 45 min. – 1hr.
  4. Prep your dough workspace with olive oil to avoid sticking by rubbing your work surface and hands with a little olive oil.
  5. Press the dough down into a large flat disc using the palm of your hand.
  6. Stretch dough by holding close to you and using hand pulling and gravity to get an even crust – Do not overwork or fold the dough. If the dough starts to resist stretching, put it down and allow it to rest, at which point it should stretch more easily. Stretch until about 11 inches in diameter.
  7. Lay dough on a parchment-paper covered sheet pan.
  8. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
  9. Mix in salt, pepper, thyme, and basil with 3 tablespoons of olive oil: Use this as your base by painting it on the pizza dough.
  10. Next, add your fresh toppings like California Ripe Olives!
  11. Finish with sliced mozzarella.
  12. Put your pizza in the oven, cook for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the pizza since every oven is different.
  13. To get that pizza oven taste and look, turn on broil for the final 5 minutes on low and make sure to watch it so it doesn’t burn.