California Pizza Kitchen Pizza Dough Recipes

Steps:

• Place a seasoned (or oiled) pizza stone in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450° F, at least 30 minutes.
• Roll and spread the dough into one 13-inch or two 9-inch circles and place on a floured pizza peel. If you are more comfortable working with one piece of dough at a time, you can shape and dress the second piece while the first is in the oven. If making 2 pizzas, split all the topping measurements in half.
• Brush the dough with olive oil to within an inch of the edge, and spread the grated mozzarella to within 1/2 inch of the outer edge. Distribute the chicken over the cheese.
• Transfer the pizza(s) to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese at the center is melted and bubbly.
• Meanwhile, prepare the Greek Salad and Tzatziki Sauce. Place the sauce in a squeeze bottle or syrup dispenser.
• Use the peel to remove the pizza from the oven. Slice as desired. Spoon the dressed salad over the pizza. Sprinkle with feta cheese, then drizzle with half the Tzatziki Sauce. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately, with the remaining sauce on the side.
• To Make Traditional Pizza Dough: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water (1 cup plus 1 tablespoon). Make sure the water is not too hot, as this will kill the yeast and prevent the dough from rising.
• If using a stand mixer, use the paddle because the dough hook will not mix this size batch efficiently. In the mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and stir by hand just to distribute. Add the dissolved yeast and place the bowl and paddle on the mixer. Start mixing on the lowest speed to mix. Increase the speed slightly and mix for 2 to 3 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Do not over-knead, as this will build up too much gluten and make the dough difficult to shape. If using a food processor, be sure to use the plastic blade, the metal knife will cut through the gluten strands and keep the dough from developing any "body". Proceed as for the stand mixer making sure to stop kneading as soon as the dough forms a smooth ball. Over-kneading could overheat the dough because the mixing bowl is directly above the motor. If mixing by hand, place the dry ingredients in a 4 to 6 quart bowl, and stir to combine. Make a well in the middle and put the liquids, reserving 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Use a wooden spoon to combine the ingredients. Once all the flour is mixed in, turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and, with lightly oiled hands, knead the dough for 5 minutes. It should be smooth and elastic, but will still be slightly sticky.
• Place the remaining teaspoon of oil in a 1 quart mixing bowl and spread it with your fingertips. Place the dough ball in the bowl, move it around in the oil, then turn it over so that the oiled side is facing upward. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• About 2 hours before you are ready to assemble your pizza, remove the dough form the refrigerator. If making individual pizzas, use a sharp knife to divide the dough into 2 or 4 equal portions.
• Roll each portion of dough into a round ball on a smooth, clean surface, making sure to seal any holes by pinching or rolling.
• Place the newly formed dough balls in a glass baking dish, spaced far enough apart to allow for each to double in size. Seal the top of the dish with clear plastic wrap. Set aside at room temperature until the dough balls have doubled in size, about 2 hours. They should be smooth and puffy. Dress the pizza according to the recipe.
• For Grilled Greek Chicken: Place the chicken breasts between sheets of waxed or parchment paper and gently pound to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Do not pound them too thin; this is just to ensure that they will cook evenly.
• Combine the olive oil and seasonings in a large mixing bowl. Stir to mix. Add the chicken breasts to the bowl, one by one, turning each in the marinade. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for 10 to 20 minutes.
• If you have a hot grill available, grill the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Do not overcook. If no grill is available, preheat the over to 350 degrees and bake the chicken, skin side up in a pan, for about 30 minutes. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
• Use the chicken immediately, as desired; or let it cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• For The Greek Salad: Combine the cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and olives in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and add to the vegetables. Stir well. Makes 3 cups.
• To Make The Tzatziki Sauce: Place all the ingredients in a blender or small food processor and process until smooth. This sauce will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Whisk before using. Makes 3/4 cups.

Steps:

• DOUGH: Dissolve the yeast in the water and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Be sure that the water is warm, not hot. Temperatures of 120°F and above will kill the yeast, and your dough will not rise. If using an upright electric mixer, use the mixing paddle attachment. This batch size is too small for the dough hook to be effective. Combine the yeast-water mixture, flour, sugar, salt1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, and 1 tablespoon warm water in the mixing bowl. Do not pour the salt directly into the yeast water because this would kill some of the yeast. Allow these ingredients to mix gradually, use the lowest 2 speeds to mix the dough. Mix for 2 to 3 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. If using a food processor, using a dough blade made of plastic rather than the sharp steel knife attachment; proceed as for stand mixer. Mix just until a smooth dough ball is formed. If mixing by hand, place the dry ingredients in a 4 to 6 quart mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in the liquids, reserving the teaspoon of olive oil. Use a wooden spoon to combine the ingredients. Once initial mixing is done, you can lightly oil your hands and begin kneading the dough. Knead for 5 minutes. When done the dough should be slightly tacky, that is, it should be barely beyond sticking to your hands. Lightly oil the dough ball and the interior of a 1-quart glass bowl with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Place the dough ball in the bowl and seal the bowl with clear food wrap. Seal airtight. Set aside and let come to room temperature, about 70 to 70°F. Allow dough to rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The dough could be used at this point, but it will not be that wonderful, chewy, flavorful dough that it will later become. Punch down the dough, re-form into a nice round ball and return it to the same bowl. Cover again with clear food wrap. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight, covered airtight. About 2 hours before you are ready to assemble your pizza, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Use a sharp knife to divide the dough into 2 equal portions, 4 equal portions if making appetizer-size pizza, or if smaller 6-inch pizzas are desired. Roll the smaller doughs into round balls on a smooth, clean surface. Be sure to seal any holes by pinching or rolling. Place the newly-formed dough balls in a glass casserole dish, spaced far enough apart to allow for each to double in size. Seal the top of the dish airtight with clear food wrap. Set aside at room temperature until the dough balls have doubled in size, about 2 hours. They should be smooth and puffy. STRETCH AND FORM THE DOUGH: Sprinkle a medium dusting of flour over a 12x12-inch clean, smooth surface; a pizza peel is ideal for this. Use a metal spatula or dough spacer to carefully remove a dough ball from the glass casserole dish, being very careful to preserve its round shape. Flour the dough liberally. Place the floured dough on the floured smooth surface. Use your hand or rolling pin to press the dough down forming a flat circle about 1/2-inch thick. Pinch the dough between your fingers all around the edge of the circle, forming a lip or rim that rises about 1/4-inch above the center surface of the dough. You may continue this outward stretching motion of the hands until you have reached a 9-inch diameter pizza dough. BAKING YOUR PIZZA: Lightly sprinkle cornmeal, semolina, or flour over the surface of a wooden pizza peel. Arrange the stretched dough over the floured peel surface. Work quickly to dress the pizza so that the dough will not become soggy or sticky from the sauces and toppings. When you are ready to transfer the pizza to the pizza stone in the pre-heated oven, grasp the handle of the peel and execute a very small test jerk to verify that the pizza will come easily off the peel. If the dough does not move freely, carefully lift the edges of the dough and try to rotate it by hand. Extreme cases may require that you toss more flour under the dough edges. Once the dough is moving easily on the peel, open the oven and position the edge of the peel over the center of the stone about 2/3 from the front of the stone. Jiggle and tilt the peel to get the pizza to start sliding off. When the pizza begins to touch the stone, pull the peel quickly out from under it. Don't attempt to move the pizza until it has begun to set, about 3 minutes. The peel can be slid under the pizza to move it or remove it.

Steps:

• Combine yeast, honey, and 1/4 cup warm water in a large bowl with a whisk. Let stand to dissolve, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining 3/4 cup warm water, and 1 cup flour to the mixture and stir until a batter forms. Add another 1 cup flour; stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup more flour and combine.
• Turn dough out onto a surface dusted with 1/4 cup flour. Knead until a smooth, fairly firm, slightly sticky dough is achieved, adding more flour as needed.
• Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board and pat down with your hand. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Stretch and fold each piece down and under, tucking as you go, to form pizza dough rounds.
• Cover with a towel and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Dust a baking sheet with cornmeal.
• Transfer dough rounds to a lightly floured board and press each piece out to desired thickness, starting in the center, until 8 to 10 inches wide. Form a crust shape around the outer edges with your fingertips.
• Transfer one round of pizza dough to the prepared baking sheet and brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Top with any sauce and toppings you like.
• Bake in the lower rack of the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Move to the center of the oven and continue to bake until golden, about 10 minutes more. Repeat to bake remaining pizzas.