Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast

Finally, the time for the sourdough pizza recipe has come. During this period, we are making homemade bread more often but we want to save the yeast at the same time (in case we have it!). And, since the sourdough/starter is so popular now, I dared to make pizza with it. I was a bit reluctant, without expecting too much but, after 2 attempts, I came up with this formula - a real success and a fantastically good pizza.

It's thin, elastic, slightly crispy on the edges - very close to what I tasted in Italy. I baked it like I baked the Italian style pizza, in an improvised oven. I think you can cook it in a pizza pan as well, but I recommend using my method for optimal results.

If I were to compare the sourdough pizza and the yeast pizza, I'd say the first one is more chewy and firmer, even though it's very thin (and we are big fans of the super thin-crust pizza). Yeast pizza crust is slightly faster and more safe, more handy, equally good, so we can't exclude it :) My husband said that sourdough pizza is exceptional and yeast pizza is very tasty...

It may look a bit more complex at first, but don't panic, it only takes some coordination and the result will be worth the effort.

Ingredients
Sourdough
50 g
you can find the recipe on my website or you can use any mature sourdough you have at hand
Water
500 g
White flour
850 g
Salt
1 tsp
Sugar
1 tbsp
Extravirgin olive oil
50 ml
Yellow cheese
600 g
plus your favourite pizza toppings - bacon, sausages, salami, vegetables etc.
Tomatoes sauce
500 g
I mean pizza sauce
Step by step
Step 1

In a bowl, measure 200g water and 50g sourdough starter - and I'm thinking of the starter you've been keeping in the fridge. You can find all the steps in the recipe on my website, but you should know it needs 2-3 weeks to get stronger. 

If the sourdough starter is new, the pizza crust might be too flat, you can help it with some yeast or roll it out into a very thin round.

Don't forget to refresh your starter - so add 25ml water and 25g rye flour back to the jar, mix well. This way you are feeding the mature starter. Then, put it back in the fridge.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 1
Step 2

Add 200g white flour to the bowl with the sourdough starter and the water.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 2
Step 3

Notice what the dough looks like - somewhat thicker and runny, yogurt-like.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 3
Step 4

Cover the bowl with a lid (not completely sealed!) and let it ferment for 5-6 hours or, even better, overnight.

I usually start preparing the sourdough pizza an evening before, so that it's ready for dinner the next day.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 4
Step 5

In the morning, I start kneading the pizza dough this way: 

- I add 300ml water to the bowl with the starter which has been fermenting overnight - notice in the picture the sourdough rising to the surface - the first sign that it's active, full of air and it's working properly.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 5
Step 6

Stir in another 650g flour.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 6
Step 7

Mix well with a spatula or a spoon to combine all the ingredients.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 7
Step 8

Then knead well the dough on the table, without any flour! It's a bit sticky at first, but if you insist, it becomes elastic, nice and very easy to work with. 

Incorporate 1 tsp salt and 1 tbsp sugar in the dough, continue to knead until you can't feel the coarse particles anymore.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 8
Step 9

And we obtain a nice, soft, smooth and beautiful dough.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 9
Step 10

Grease the bowl with a little olive oil and place pizza dough in it.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 10
Step 11

Let rise (in the covered bowl) at room temperature for 3-4 hours or until doubled in size. The time varies depending on how strong the starter is.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 11
Step 12

When it has risen, remove from the bowl, press gently for the air to come out and cut into 5-6 equal pieces.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 12
Step 13

Using some flour, shape each piece of dough into a ball.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 13
Step 14

Arrange the balls on a large plate or platter dusted with flour or, even better, with semolina (I actually had Italian semolina). This way the pizza crust will be somewhat crispier.

Grease the top of each ball with a little olive oil, so that they don't form a skin while they rest.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 14
Step 15

Cover in cling film and let rise/rest for 2 hours.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 15
Step 16

This is what dough looks like when it's ready to be shaped into a pizza crust, so let's start.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 16
Step 17

First, preheat the oven to, ideally, 250-270 degrees C. We will bake the pizza quickly, without burning it, though.

Until not long ago, I used to place the crust on an upside down baking sheet, like in the Gennaro's pizza recipe. A few days ago, I found a pizza stone at this shop called Lidl's. I think I'm turning into a pizzaiola :)

You must preheat the oven together with a baking sheet placed upside down or a pizza/bread stone. That's how you improvise a hot oven for baking the pizza.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 17
Step 18

While the oven is heating up, we start to shape the first crust.

Dust with some more flour and place a ball of dough on the work space. Carefully press to shape it into a round. You can find plenty of tutorials on Youtube showing how to roll out pizza dough with your hands. See what works best for you.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 18
Step 19

After a proper dusting with flour, transfer the crust on a piece of baking paper and roll out into a pizza round - with the edges slightly thicker and thin in the middle.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 19
Step 20

And now we follow the standard procedure for any other pizza - spread with tomato sauce, scatter with yellow cheese/mozzarella and your favourite topping.

Here I had sausages and bacon, one of the simplest, yet very good versions.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 20
Step 21

Now the parchment paper will help us transfer pizza on an upside down baking sheet - or on a pizza shovel, or on a large cutting board.

Pull the paper gently and transfer crust.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 21
Step 22

Do the same in the oven, pull the paper and transfer pizza on the upside down baking sheet or on the preheated pizza stone (make sure the oven is properly heated).

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 22
Step 23

Set the timer or look at the clock for 8-9 minutes (depending on the oven) and wait. Or, even better, prepare the next pizza :)

It usually takes 11 minutes to bake in my oven at 250 degrees C and 8 minutes at 270 degrees C. See what it looks like, but don't keep it for too long (even if it looks a bit pale), it will be too dry and won't taste as good.

Remove from the oven the same way, by pulling the parchment paper and sliding it on a different sheet or cutting board.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 23
Step 24

Here I made pizza with spinach and cheeses, same dough and method, recipe is coming up.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 24
Step 25

Notice the thicker edges, dough is airy and fluffy, although a bit more chewy and firmer, just like any other sourdough crust.

I think it's the perfect combination and texture of an Italian style pizza, especially if you like the thin pizza crust.

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 25
Step 26

From these quantities you will make 6 pizzas. I prefer to make more than one and reheat them the next days.

You can as well make fewer pizzas and reduce the amounts proportionally. Unfortunatelly, it won't take less time, though... 

Anyway, this pizza is exceptional and I think you should go on this adventure :) 

Enjoy!

Sourdough Pizza, No Yeast - Step 26
Quantity: 6 pcs (5-6 pizza medii)
Prep time:
600 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 600 min