I’ve been making my own pizza every week since I discovered how easy it is to rustle up a couple of generous pizza bases using a packet of bread mix from the supermarket. I wrote a post about it before Christmas, but I’ve now made a little video to show you just how easy it is to try yourself.
Disclaimer: I filmed this on my own while feeling pretty rough – hence shaky filming and the odd sniff which I hope i’ve managed to edit out 😉 But I think it shows you the process!
I also wanted to share the costings so you can see what you’re saving. A decent Sainsbury’s Italian 10″ margarita pizza costs £3.75, but it only costs me £1.66* to make TWO whopping ones of my own.
Of course you can get even cheaper pizzas at the supermarket that cost as little as 50p, but let’s face it they are minging. I was happy to keep buying supermarket pizzas when it was buy one get one free, but honestly the difference in taste between shop bought and home made is vast and has totally converted me.
This is great food for a playdate but also a fun activity to get children involved with. Make the pizza bases and sauce in advance, then let them loose with the toppings – they’ll LOVE it. Wrap up any leftovers in foil and keep in the fridge for snacks and packed lunches – cold pizza is so lush.
Have a go and let me know what you think!
Easy home made pizza
Makes 2, serves 4
For the pizza base
1 x 500g packet crusty white bread mix
15ml olive oil
quantity of water stated on packet
For the tomato sauce
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
pinch of salt and sugar
For the toppings
sweetcorn, shredded ham, sliced mushrooms, sliced peppers, sunblush tomatoes, olives… whatever you like!
Grated mozzarella
1. Put the breadmix in a large mixing bowl with the olive oil and mix until combined. Then gradually add the required quantity of water until a smooth dough forms. I find this easier in my electric mixer! Don’t add all the water at once or it may become too sticky, just add enough until the dough comes together.
2. Knead for 5 minutes – rest for five minutes and then knead for a further 5 minutes. Again this is far more relaxing with an electric mixer and frees you up to get on with the tomato sauce…
3. For the tomato sauce put all the ingredients into a pan with a pinch of salt and sugar, then bubble on the hob for 10-15 minutes while your dough is kneaded. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl so it cools a little.
4. Pre-heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Flour your work surface and two baking sheets. Take your dough and cut it in half. Roll out and stretch each of them until they fit the baking sheets. Prick over the surface with a fork and then bake in the oven for 5 minutes to firm up a bit.
5. Take out of oven and then spread each with the tomato sauce using the back of a spoon or a spatula. Then scatter over your toppings, finishing with an even layer of grated cheese.
6. Put them back in the top of the oven for 10 minutes until golden and bubbling. Slice and serve with plenty of salad.
*Costings
1 x 500g packet crusty white bread mix 80p (it’s recently gone up from 66p)
1 tin chopped tomatoes 75p
1 packet grated mozzarella £1.15
I’m not including storecupboard ingredients – olive oil, dried herbs
Hello. Totally agree – I always make my own pizza, as we get through so much of it (Unhusband is Italian) and can’t afford to keep buying them. I use strong white flour and have recently discovered very strong white flour which is even better (if you want to be fussy) yeast and salt. I just smear a dollop of passata (even cheaper than chopped tomatoes!) on the base, then let the kids chuck whatever they want on top. I’ve been using fresh yeast (bought over by the mother Unlaw and put in the freezer) but don’t know where to find it here. Any ideas?
Thanks for your comment Becky – glad i’m not alone in my love of home made pizza! When I learnt how to make bread a few years back on a course, they said you could try to get hold of fresh yeast from your local bakery. I’ve never seen it at the supermarket, so it’s probably worth a punt.
We make lots of pizzas here at home as well as when I am teaching . It gets the best reaction every time and the students can’t believe the difference in price!
That’s good to hear Laura – such a tasty way to save money 😉
Good work Katie – wish it was smelly-vision too! I’m inspired to have a go again. I like a thin crust but am not good at getting the dough thin enough. Re fresh yeast – our Tesco store which has an instore bakery used to give you some yeast if you asked nicely. I think they might charge now, but that’s fair enough.
Thanks Jan! I find if you keep rolling and stretching you get a thin result in the end. Thanks for the fresh yeast tip!
the thing of oil and the other thing wen u mixed it that u say it needs 5 min wat is the name of it
it’s a packet of bread mix, a tablespoon of oil and whatever quantity of lukewarm water it states on the packet of bread mix – hope that helps!