Pizza is an Italian classic that combines the delicious trio of cheese, dough and toppings. While everyone has their own favourite flavours and preferences, most people agree that pizza is a perfect weekend treat. To celebrate National Pizza Day, we are sharing a guide to making your own pizza at home, along with some tasty side dish recipes to go perfectly with your Italian delicacy.
First up, we wouldn’t be celebrating National Pizza Day properly if we weren’t making our own pizza from scratch:
Ingredients
For the Dough:
440g all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 packet active dry yeast
300ml warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce:
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings (Customisable)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni, sliced
Vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, onions, mushrooms)
Fresh basil leaves
Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
Make the Dough
In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix until a dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let it rise for 1–2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
Make the Sauce
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic for around 1 minute.
Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.
Assemble the Pizza
Preheat your oven to 245°C
Punch down the dough and divide it into 2 equal portions for two pizzas.
Roll out each portion on a floured surface into a 12-inch circle.
Transfer the dough to a baking sheet
Add Toppings
Spread a thin layer of sauce over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce.
Add your desired toppings.
Bake the Pizza
Place the pizza in the preheated oven.
Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil or grated Parmesan if desired.
Slice and enjoy your homemade pizza fresh out of the oven.
Once you have decided on your perfect pizza, you need some delicious sides to compliment your meal. First up we have some delicious Stuffed Mushrooms:
Ingredients
Button mushrooms
Cream cheese
Grated Parmesan
Garlic and parsley
Instructions
Remove mushroom stems and mix the filling ingredients.
Spoon into caps and bake at 190°C for 15 minutes.
Having a refreshing and lighter dish to compliment your hearty pizza is a great way to get the best of both worlds. A Caesar salad is the perfect choice to enjoy those crisp, fresh flavours:
Ingredients
1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
Store-bought croutons
Grated Parmesan cheese
Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
Toss your romaine with croutons and Parmesan.
Add dressing and toss again.
Serve chilled.
If you have leftover pizza dough, these garlic breadsticks are the perfect way to use it up:
Ingredients
500g of your homemade dough (this makes around 8-10 breadsticks)
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°C.
Roll out the pizza dough into a rectangular shape and cut into strips.
Twist each strip and place it on a baking sheet.
Mix melted butter and garlic. Brush over the breadsticks.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Lastly, no pizza night is complete without a dipping sauce for those crusts. These sauces are quick and easy to make to bring your pizza night to a new level:
Marinara Sauce: Heat canned tomatoes with garlic, olive oil, and oregano.
Garlic Aioli: Mix mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice.
Pesto: Blend fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and olive oil.
This National Pizza Day, why not treat yourself to the homemade pizza experience? From making the perfect dough to choosing the toppings you want; it’s a great way to bring the taste of Italy to your table. Whether you’re sharing slices with your family, having a pizza party with friends, or enjoying a date night, we hope you have a great National Pizza Day!