Aug
9
2010
Homemade Pizza and Brick Oven
Author: kevin
So the other day we got a wild hair and decided after watching Brian Boitano’s cooking show to make our own pizza oven.
It was simple really, just headed over to Home Depot and purchased 18 clay bricks, the ones that are half the width of regular red clay bricks. When we returned home we then lined the sides and bottom of our BBQ grill and voila! instant brick oven. It cost about .17 cents a brick, too. Nothing to it. Dave also made the 2 side ones that ended where the lid closed cut on the diagonal to seal the deal nicely.
Once you make your dough, recipe below, or get a pre-packaged one from the deli refrigerator section of your market, you add whatever toppings you want and enjoy.
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 1/2 oz fresh yeast
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- cornmeal to dust pizza stone
In a large kitchen mixer place the water and yeast in a large bowl and stir until dissolved. Next add the honey, salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil and mix well to combine. Add 1 cup of the flour and mix until it becomes a loose batter. Add 2 more cups of the flour and mix on low for 2 to 3 minutes or until it form a ball around hook and pulls from sides.
Take the dough off the rook and scrape inside of bowl and turn out onto a floured board or marble surface. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes, until dough is smooth and firm. Place in the cleaned mixing bowl that is lightly-oiled bowl, using remaining tablespoon of oil and cover with a towel. Let rise in the warmest part of the kitchen for 45 minutes.
For individual pizzas or calzones, cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and knead into rounds. For one large pizza, knead into 1 large round. For either, let rest for 15 minutes.
