Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Stir together the water, yeast and the sugar.
  2. Let rest until the yeast foams, about 3 minutes.
  3. Place 2 1/2-cups of the flour, salt and cornmeal in a mixing bowl and combine.
  4. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil and stir together to form a sticky dough.
  5. Remove from bowl and knead, adding the remaining flour a little at a time until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
  6. The longer you knead, the more texture your dough will have.
  7. Turn the dough into a lightly oiled bowl.
  8. Cover with a dry towel and place in a warm, draft free area.
  9. (I usually stick it in the oven. If your oven is cold, very briefly- about 1 minute- turn to highest temp, then off again, well before placing bowl in oven. Let's not melt any bowls, eh?) Let rise for at least one hour.
  10. When dough has doubled in bulk, punch back down.
  11. At this point, add any of the optional ingredients at end of recipe, or as desired.
  12. Let the dough rise again, until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
  13. Or, if there were no extra additions, shape and add toppings.
  14. Bake at 500°F for about 8 minutes.
  15. Optional, but worthwhile: fresh herbs (I use basil, oregano and thyme), chopped minced garlic, parmiagiano-reggiano and extra cornmeal for texture.