The spring bank holidays have given us a taste of vacation. With our tips, take your time to make your own pizza dough and get the most out of your Maximus wood-fired oven !
A FAQ with tips for making perfect pizza dough, and different recipes to change things up from the "Margherita"!
5 pizza chef tips for perfect pizza dough
By following these tips, you will get delicious homemade pizza dough every time.
1/ What kneading method is needed for the dough?
Knead the dough long enough to develop the gluten, but not too long to avoid it becoming too elastic. Approximately 10 minutes of kneading by hand or 5 minutes with a stand mixer.
2/ What water temperature is needed for homemade pizza dough?
Use lukewarm water (around 35-40°C) to activate the yeast more quickly and promote fermentation, resulting in a lighter and airier dough.
3/ How long should I rest?
Let the dough rest in a warm, draft-free place for at least an hour, or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, to allow for slow fermentation and flavor development.
4/ What type of flour should I use?
Use high protein flour (around 12-14%) such as durum wheat flour or type 00 flour to achieve a soft but elastic pizza dough texture.
5/ How to stretch the dough?
Stretch the dough by hand or with a rolling pin to an even thickness, leaving a thicker edge to form the crust. Avoid overstretching the dough to preserve its air bubbles and light texture.
Find the video recipe for pizza dough on our YouTube channel, My Barbecue.
3 pizza recipes to change things up from the "margherita"
1/ Pizza with goat cheese and figs
Recipe ingredients
- Pizza dough
- Goat cheese
- Fresh figs
- Honey
- Rocket
- Olive oil
Maximus wood-fired oven heating time: Approximately 45 minutes
Wood-fired oven temperature: 300-350°C
Cooking time: 5-7 minutes
Preparation steps for this wood-fired pizza recipe
- Preheat your Maximus wood-fired oven to a temperature of approximately 300-350°C for about 45 minutes.
- Spread the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread the goat cheese generously over the rolled-out dough.
- Arrange the sliced fresh figs over the goat cheese.
- Drizzle with honey to taste.
- Slide the pizza into the preheated wood-fired oven and cook for 5-7 minutes until the crust is golden and crispy.
- Take the pizza out of the oven and add a handful of fresh rocket on top.
- Drizzle lightly with olive oil before serving.
2/ Seafood pizza with pesto sauce
Recipe ingredients
- Pizza dough
- Pesto sauce
- Mixed seafood (prawns, squid, mussels)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Mozzarella
- Fresh basil
Maximus wood-fired oven heating time: Approximately 50 minutes
Wood-fired oven temperature: 350-400°C
Cooking time: 6-8 minutes
Preparation steps for this wood-fired pizza recipe- Preheat your Maximus wood-fired oven to a temperature of approximately 350-400°C for about 50 minutes.
- Spread the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread a thin layer of pesto sauce over the dough.
- Arrange the mixed seafood and cherry tomatoes on top of the sauce.
- Add pieces of mozzarella on top of the seafood.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil.
- Slide the pizza into the preheated wood-fired oven and cook for 6-8 minutes until the seafood is cooked through and the cheese is melted and golden.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and serve hot.
3/ Vegetarian pizza with roasted squash and spinach
Recipe ingredients
- Pizza dough
- Butternut squash, diced and roasted
- Fresh spinach
- Goat cheese or feta
- Pumpkin seeds
- Tomato sauce
Maximus wood-fired oven heating time: Approximately 40 minutes
Wood-fired oven temperature: 300-350°C
Cooking time: 5-7 minutes
Preparation steps for this wood-fired pizza recipe- Preheat your Maximus wood-fired oven to a temperature of approximately 300-350°C for about 40 minutes.
- Spread the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Distribute the roasted squash cubes and fresh spinach over the dough.
- Crumble the goat cheese or feta over the vegetables.
- Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
- Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the vegetables and cheese.
- Slide the pizza into the preheated wood-fired oven and cook for 5-7 minutes until the crust is golden and crispy.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and serve it piping hot.