How to Make Margherita Pizza at Home | Gordon Ramsay

Summary

This video script guides viewers through making pizza dough by mixing warm water, sugar, flour, olive oil, and yeast. After kneading and proving the dough, it's divided into balls, flattened, and cooked in a hot pan. The pizza is topped with tomato passata, mozzarella, and optional toppings like rosemary, chutney, smoked paprika, chili flakes, almonds, lemon, and sherry vinegar before finishing on a hot grill.

Takeaways

• 🍞 To prepare pizza dough, add yeast to warm water with a tablespoon of sugar and let it sit.
• 🧂 In a separate bowl, sift the flour and mix in olive oil and the yeast mixture.
• 👐 Knead the dough for about 10 minutes on a floured surface until it is smooth and even.
• 🍲 After kneading, place the dough back into the bowl, cover, and let it prove in a warm place until it doubles in size.
• 🎈 Once doubled, punch out any excess air and return the dough to the floured surface.
• 🍕 Divide the dough into four balls, flatten each, and prepare for cooking.
• 🔥 Heat olive oil in a hot pan and cook the pizza dough, which is usually baked in a very hot oven but can also be pan-fried.
• 🍅 When the dough bubbles and the base turns golden, spoon over tomato passata and top with mozzarella.
• 🔥 Transfer the pizza to a hot grill to finish cooking until golden and bubbly.
• 🌿 Add a garnish of fresh rosemary for a classic pizza topping, but feel free to customize with your favorite toppings.
• 🌶️ For a twist, consider adding a combination of smoked paprika, chili flakes, chopped almonds, lemon, and sherry vinegar for a unique flavor profile.

Q & A

What is the first step in preparing the pizza dough?

The first step is to add warm water to a bowl and mix in a tablespoon of sugar, then set it aside.

What should be done with the flour before adding other ingredients?

The flour should be sifted to remove any lumps and ensure a smooth mixture.

What are the main ingredients added to the flour?

Olive oil and the yeast mixture (prepared with warm water and sugar) are added to the sifted flour.

How long should you knead the dough on a floured surface?

The dough should be kneaded for about 10 minutes until it is even and smooth.

What should you do with the dough after kneading?

Place the dough back into the bowl, cover it, and leave it in a warm place to prove until it roughly doubles in size.

How do you prepare the dough for shaping after it has proved?

Punch out any excess air from the dough, then place it back on a floured surface and divide it into four balls. Flatten each ball to shape the pizza bases.

What is the method used to cook the pizza dough in the script?

The pizza dough is cooked using a hot pan method, which is an alternative to baking in a searingly hot oven.

What are the typical toppings added to the pizza after the dough is placed in the pan?

Tomato passata (strained tomatoes), chunks of mozzarella cheese, and fresh rosemary are added to the pizza.

How is the pizza finished after adding the initial toppings?

The pizza is transferred to a hot grill to cook until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

What are some alternative toppings suggested in the script for a more unique pizza?

The script suggests adding smoked paprika, chili flakes, chopped almonds, lemon juice, and sherry vinegar for a different flavor profile.

What is the purpose of adding sugar to the warm water initially?

The sugar in the warm water helps to activate the yeast, promoting fermentation and making the dough rise effectively.