If you are planning to watch a movie at home with family or friends and want a quiet dinner, your first instinct is most likely to open a delivery app and order a pizza. Instead, we will show that you can also unleash your creativity and get everyone involved in making and assembling pizzas, with a foolproof dough recipe and various topping suggestions.

The main secrets to making pizza at home have nothing to do with kneading or the perfect circle of dough. The key to this preparation is moisture. It may surprise you to understand that the secret lies in the water. Homemade pizza dough should be made with at least 50% moisture, because it needs to cook for longer in a home oven and thus needs to contain more water.

However, it is also important not to exaggerate in the amount of water and to roll the dough out well, so that the circle is very even. If possible, cook the crust on a stone instead of in a baking pan. Another professional tip is to preheat the baking pan in the oven for about half an hour and cover it with wax paper before baking the pizza.

Recipe: pizza dough
Yield: three medium pizzas
Preparation time: 1 + rest
Difficulty: easy

Ingredients
250 ml water
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons sugar
500 g bread flour
3 teaspoons yeast

Preparation method
Dissolve the salt in warm water and add the yeast.
Start by mixing ⅘ of the flour with water. Stir for three minutes, then add the rest of the flour and knead for about 15 minutes.
Let the dough rest covered for 30 minutes and divide into three equal parts. Let it rise for at least eight hours in a bowl covered with a damp towel or plastic wrap.

How to shape it by hand
1. Turn the dough out onto a light floured surface and knead for 1 minute until it is smooth.
2. Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and roll it out into circles of the desired thickness.
3. For a thicker crust, roll it out, cover and let it rise in a warm spot.
4. Place it on a lightly greased baking sheet. Spread the selected toppings on the pizza.
5. Bake in the oven preheated to 200 °C (400 °F) for 12-15 minutes or until the base is browned and the toppings are heated all the way through.

Topping suggestions: marinara sauce, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, capers, pineapple chunks, olives, herbs, salami, ham, anchovies, sardines, cheeses (mozzarella, parmesan, gorgonzola).

Choose your ingredients, gather your friends and have fun in the kitchen!