Homemade Pizza in the Vitamix

By Cindy

Ingredients

• 1 package (1 tablespoon) active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) warm water (110°F; 44°C)
• 2 1/2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon light olive or grapeseed oil
• 2/3 cup (160 ml) pizza sauce
• 1 1/4 cups (100 g) grated mozzarella cheese
• Pizza toppings (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

Pizza (From the Whole Grains Cookbook, Using the Dry Container)
Yield: 1 large or 2 small pizzas

Combine yeast, sugar and warm water and set aside to proof, about 5 minutes.
Place flour and salt into the Vitamix container and secure lid.
Select Variable 1.
Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 6.
Blend until a hole forms in the center of the flour, about 5 seconds.
Stop the machine, add the yeast mixture and oil into the hole in the flour. Replace the lid.
To mix the dough, turn the machine on High for 1 second. Stop machine. Remove lid.
While the dough rests for a moment, lightly coat the pan with vegetable cooking spray or olive oil.
Use a nylon spatula to scrape the sides of the container. Pull the dough away from the container sides and into the center of the mixture.
With the switch on High, quickly turn the machine on and off five times.
Repeat steps 9 and 10 five times, or until the dough binds together into a soft elastic mixture.
To remove the dough from the container, quickly turn the machine on and off five times (to lift the dough up and away from the blades). Transfer the dough to your work surface. Lightly dust with flour and shape into a ball. Cover with a damp dish towel or inverted bowl and let rest 15 minutes.
Deflate the dough with the heel of your hands, keeping it round. Using a rolling pin, roll lightly from the center outward using equal strokes in each direction, lifting and turning the dough 1/4 turn after each stroke. The final shape should be about 1 inch larger than your pan. Fit it into the pan. Pinch up a collar around the edge to hold the filling.
Spread 2/3 cup (160 ml) pizza sauce on the crust. Top with 1 1/4 cups (100 g) grated mozzarella cheese. Finish with your favorite toppings.
Bake at 425°F (215°C) for 16-20 minutes in the center of the oven until the cheese is bubbly and the crust lightly browned.