Basic Pizza Dough

Directions

1. 1
   1 Combine the yeast, flour, and 2 teaspoons salt in the container of a food processor.
2. 2
   Turn the machine on and add 1 cup water and the 2 tablespoons of oil through the feed tube.
3. 3
   2 Process for about 30 seconds, adding more water, a little at a time, until the mixture forms a ball and is slightly sticky to the touch.
4. 4
   If it is dry, add another tablespoon or two of water and process for another 10 seconds.
5. 5
   (In the unlikely event that the mixture is too sticky, add flour, a tablespoon at a time.)
6. 6
   3 Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead by hand a few seconds to form a smooth, round dough ball.
7. 7
   Grease a bowl with the remaining olive oil, and place the dough, in it.
8. 8
   Cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let rise in warm; draft-free area until the dough doubles in size, 1 to 2 hours.
9. 9
   You can, cut this rising time short if you are in a hurry, or you can let the dough rise more slowly, in the refrigerator, for up to 6 or 8 hours.
10. 10
    4 Proceed with any recipe below, or wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month.
11. 11
    Defrost in a covered bowl in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
12. 12
    To make this dough by hand: Combine half the flour with the salt and yeast and stir to blend.
13. 13
    Add 1 cup water and: the 2 tablespoons olive oil; stir with a wooden spoon until smooth.
14. 14
    Add remaining flour a bit at a time; when the mixture becomes too stiff to stir with a spoon, begin kneading, adding as little flour as possible-just enough to keep the dough from being a sticky mess.
15. 15
    Knead until smooth but still quite moist, about 10 minutes.
16. 16
    Proceed as above.
17. 17
    To make this dough with a standing mixer: The machine must be fairly powerful or it will stall.
18. 18
    Combine half the flour with the salt, yeast, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 cup water; blend with the machines paddle.
19. 19
    With the machine on slow speed, add flour a little at a time, until the mixture has become a sticky ball that pulls away from the sides of the bowl (switch to die dough hook if necessary).
20. 20
    Knead for a minute by hand, adding as little flour as possible, then proceed as above.