The Best Sourdough Pizza Crust for a Fluffy, Chewy Taste

Nothing beats a delicious pizza topped with your favorite toppings. But if you’re looking for something a little more special than the standard crust, why not try sourdough pizza crust? The sourdough pizza crust is a fluffy and chewy take on the traditional crust, perfect for any pizza lover.

In this post, we’ll review the best sourdough pizza crusts so you can make the perfect pizza every time. We’ve considered the texture, flavor, and ingredients to give you a comprehensive review of each pizza crust. We’ll also provide tips and tricks to ensure you get the most out of your sourdough pizza crust. Let’s get started!

Ingredients for the Dough

Making sourdough pizza dough requires basic ingredients typically found in most households. These include flour (bread or all-purpose flour is ideal), water, salt, active dry yeast, and oil (olive oil is recommended). If you’d like to add flavor to your crust, consider adding dried herbs or garlic powder.

Sourdough pizza dough requires a few more ingredients than traditional pizza dough because of its longer fermentation process and unique flavor profile. In addition to the above ingredients, you’ll also need a sourdough starter and some sugar to feed it (rapid-rise yeast can be used instead of a sourdough starter). Making sourdough pizza crust is essentially the same as regular pizza dough — prepping the starter is the only major difference.

Tools Necessary for Prepping and Baking the Pizza

Of course, you’ll need an oven and baking stone for your pizza. A baking stone helps to absorb moisture from the dough so that you get a crispier crust than when baked directly on an oven rack alone. Preheat your stone in the oven for at least 30 minutes before baking your pizza.

In addition to an oven and baking stone, you will need some kitchen tools for prepping your dough and baking your pizza. This includes measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, wooden spoons, parchment paper, a rolling pin, a sharp knife, and a pizza cutter wheel.

Setting Up the Sourdough Starter

To make sourdough pizza dough, you need active live culture known as a sourdough starter (or bubbly batter). This starter can be made using flour and warm water or purchased from a bakery or store where available. The process of making your starter involves mixing flour, water, and active dry yeast until it forms a thick batter before transferring it to an airtight container over several days and feeding it regularly with sugar until it is bubbly and ready to use in recipes (it usually takes about 5-7 days).

Once your starter is made up, it needs to be maintained to stay fresh and healthy enough to use in recipes like this. It is best to store the starter in an airtight container in either the refrigerator or at room temperature. Both work fine — just make sure you “feed” it regularly with sugar, usually about once every few days or so, depending on how often you plan to use it.

Getting Started

Once your starter is ready and all the necessary ingredients are prepped and measured, it’s time to start kneading. Begin by whisking the dry ingredients (flour, salt, sugar) in a large bowl. Gradually add the wet ingredients (starter, olive oil) while mixing with a wooden spoon until everything combines into a thick dough ball. Knead for approximately 8 minutes, adjusting with extra flour to prevent stickiness and enhance flavor and texture.

After kneading, transfer the dough to an oiled bowl. Lightly cover it with plastic wrap and let it proof at room temperature for 8-12 hours, considering the temperature of your kitchen. The aim is to activate the delicious flavor of sourdough. Colder temperatures may require a longer proofing time, while warmer temperatures may require a shorter duration (around 5 to 7 hours). Look for signs of activity in the dough, indicating that it’s proofing correctly. Once you notice this, shape the dough according to the instructions below.

Shaping the Pizza

Once proofed, divide your dough into two equal parts. Roll out each part into a circle about 1/4 inch thick using either a rolling pin or your hands, whichever you prefer. It may take some practice, so don’t worry if it’s imperfect. Just start rolling!

Once rolled out to your desired thickness and size, lightly dust each side with additional flour. Transfer each dough circle onto parchment paper placed on a greased baking sheet or preheated baking stone, depending on your preferred thickness and crust style. With gentle movements, stretch and press each side outwards while rotating them in circles. This process makes the crust thinner as it becomes larger, creating those delightful air pockets for a fluffy texture. Once you’ve achieved the desired size and style, add your preferred toppings and follow the instructions below.

Baking

Before you begin baking, ensure your oven is preheated according to the instructions. If you use a baking stone, allow it to preheat for at least 30 minutes. This step is essential for achieving excellent crispiness and texture. Keep all necessary tools handy, such as parchment paper and utensils used during preparation, like a wooden spoon, spatula, or pizza cutter wheel.

Once everything is prepped, carefully place each shaped pizza onto either parchment paper over a greased baking sheet or directly onto the preheated baking stone, depending on your desired thickness and style. Add your desired toppings, such as vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Bake the pizzas at 500°F until they turn golden brown, and the cheese melts. The baking time typically ranges from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the types of toppings used, thickness, and style.

After baking, transfer the finished pizzas onto cutting boards and let them cool before slicing. Serve the pizzas warm, and enjoy!

Conclusion

The sourdough pizza crust is a delicious and unique variation of classic pizza crust, perfect for special occasions or nights with friends. With the right ingredients, tools, and instructions, you can easily make a fluffy, chewy crust that will wow everyone. Whether making your starter from scratch or using store-bought, you can master the perfect sourdough pizza that will become a staple in your kitchen. So, enjoy the best sourdough pizza crust for a fluffy, chewy take on the traditional crust!