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Neapolitan Pizza Dough

Neapolitan Pizza Dough

Perfect 62% hydration dough for authentic Neapolitan-style pizza

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Prep Time4 hours
Cook Time0 minutes
Pizzas
DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

  • 152g Tipo 00 flour (or bread flour)
  • 94.2ml room temperature water (62% hydration)
  • 4.5g fine sea salt (3%)
  • 0.91g active dry yeast (0.6%)

Instructions

  1. 1Measure all ingredients precisely using a digital scale. Use room temperature water (70-75°F / 21-24°C). For authentic Neapolitan pizza, use only 00 flour and avoid oil and sugar. Keep salt and yeast separate until mixing to protect yeast activity.
  2. 2In a large bowl, combine 00 flour and salt. Dissolve the active dry yeast in a small portion of the water first and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before adding. Make a well in the center and add water gradually while mixing with your hands or a wooden spoon. The dough should be very wet and sticky - this is normal for Neapolitan style.
  3. 3Transfer to a floured surface and knead for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should be very tacky but not overly sticky. The dough is ready when it can be stretched thin enough to see light through without tearing (windowpane test). Resist the urge to add more flour — stickiness is normal and essential for Neapolitan texture.
  4. 4Place dough in a lightly floured bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and let rise at room temperature for ~3 hours or until doubled in size.
  5. 51 hour before desired baking time, shape the dough into a smooth ball (250g). Handle very gently to preserve air bubbles for maximum oven spring. Place on a floured surface, cover, and let rest for 1 hour before stretching.
  6. 6Gently stretch the dough ball by pressing from the center outward (never use a rolling pin). The dough should be very thin in the center with a thicker edge. Add toppings sparingly - traditional Neapolitan uses minimal toppings. Bake at 800-900°F (425-485°C) for 60-90 seconds for authentic results.

Chef's Tips

Use Tipo 00 flour for authentic Neapolitan-style crust
Water temperature is crucial - too hot kills yeast, too cold slows fermentation
Knead until the dough passes the windowpane test (stretches thin without tearing)
Let dough rest at room temperature for at least 3 hours for proper gluten development
The dough ball can be frozen for up to 3 months - thaw in refrigerator overnight
The dough should be very tacky but not overly sticky - resist adding extra flour
Handle the dough gently during balling to preserve air bubbles for maximum oven spring
For overnight fermentation, use our dough calculator to adjust the yeast amount and proofing time

Nutrition Information

Per pizza

Calories547 cal
Protein15.7g
Carbohydrates114.4g
Fat1.6g

* Values are a rough guide and may differ depending on ingredients used