Perfect pizza is just a few tips away…

Pizza has to be one of the ultimate comfort foods: flatbreads with a host of delicious toppings and a crust that can be as thick or thin as you like. Many pizza devotees believe in keeping this savoury meal of peasant origins as simple as possible: a good dough, a robust and rustic tomato sauce, torn mozzarella and scatterings of fresh basil – job done!

Mastering this fabulously easy and basic pizza dough will ensure you never suffer one of those ‘what’s for dinner’ moments and will have friends and family declaring, “This is just like mamma used to make!”

Remember these quick and easy tips for the perfect pizza-making experience:

• Always roll the dough out on a floured work surface.
• The oven should be at its highest temperature for baking pizzas.
• Leftover pizza dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.
• Fresh herbs add great flavour to any pizza.

MORE: Find our recipe for Easy Pizza Dough here.

ALSO: Find our recipe for Basic Rustic Tomato Sauce here.

Simple pizza

Preheat the oven to 220°C and lightly oil a baking tray. Take one quantity of basic pizza dough and roll it out on a flat work surface. Transfer the dough to the baking tray. Spread the base with tomato sauce and add 1 ball of torn buffalo mozzarella. Season and bake for 8 – 10 minutes, until the base is crisp and the cheese has melted. Scatter with fresh basil before serving.

Quick ideas for leftover dough

For those who have managed to resist the temptation of consuming vast quantities of homemade pizza all in one go, try this super tasty and quick idea to turn that leftover dough into a herby flatbread. Perfect with pre-dinner drinks or as a side during a meal.

Preheat the oven to 220°C and grease a baking tray with olive oil. Take one quantity of basic pizza dough and roll it out on a floured work surface. Roll out the dough as thin or as thick as you like. Place the dough on the baking tray and scatter with 10ml (2 tsp) chopped fresh rosemary, 5ml (1 tsp) dried chilli flakes, 5ml (1 tsp) salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 10 minutes or until crisp.

By Leila Saffarian and Nomvuselelo Mncube