Recipe: Pepperoni Pizza with Garlic and Herb Crust

PEPPERONI PIZZA WITH GARLIC AND HERB CRUST



FOR THE CRUST:
1 3/4 to 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided use
1 envelope Fleischmann's Pizza Crust Yeast OR RapidRise Yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon Spice Islands Italian Herb Seasoning
2/3 cup very warm water (120 to 130 degrees F)*
2 teaspoons Spice Islands Minced Garlic
3 tablespoons Mazola Corn Oil

TOPPINGS:
1/2 to 1 cup pizza sauce
Pepperoni slices
1 to 2 cups (4 to 8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar, salt and Italian seasoning in a large bowl. Add very warm water, garlic and oil; mix until well blended, about 1 minute. Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Dough should form a ball and will be slightly sticky.

Knead** on a floured surface, adding additional flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. (If using RapidRise Yeast, let dough rest at this point for 10 minutes.)

Pat dough with floured hands to fill greased pizza pan or baking sheet. OR roll dough on a floured counter to 12-inch circle; place in greased pizza pan or baking sheet. Form a rim by pinching the edge of the dough.

Spread with pizza sauce. Top with pepperoni and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake on lowest oven rack for 12 to 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and crust is browned.

*If you don't have a thermometer, water should feel very warm to the touch.

**To knead the dough, add just enough flour to the dough and your hands to keep the dough from sticking. Flatten dough and fold it toward you. Using the heels of your hands, push the dough away with a rolling motion. Rotate dough a quarter turn and repeat the "fold, push and turn" steps. Keep kneading dough until it is smooth and elastic. Use a little more flour if dough becomes too sticky, always working the flour into the ball of dough.

VARIATION:
Use crust to make one thick crust 9-inch pizza. Increase baking time to 20 minutes.

Makes 1 (12-inch) pizza
Source: Fleishmann's Yeast, ACH Food Companies, Inc.