Brick-Oven Pizza (Brooklyn Style)

1. Stage

Make the dough: Pour warm water into a large bowl, then sprinkle yeast over the top. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in cold water and salt. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time until incorporated. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

2. Stage

Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth, about 10 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

3. Stage

Divide in half and form into two tight dough balls. Coat with olive oil and refrigerate in a sealed container for at least 16 hours. Be sure to use a big enough container to allow dough to rise. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

4. Stage

Make the pizzas: Remove dough from the refrigerator one hour prior to using.

5. Stage

Preheat the oven, with a pizza stone on the lowest rack, to 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Lightly dust a pizza peel with flour.

6. Stage

Prepare the first pizza: Lightly dust one dough ball with flour and stretch gradually until about 14 inches in diameter, or about the size of the pizza stone. Place on the floured peel. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

7. Stage

Lay 1/2 of the mozzarella on the crust, then sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon oregano and 1/8 teaspoon pepper over the top. Randomly arrange 1/4 cup crushed tomatoes over the pizza, leaving some empty areas, then drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over top. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

8. Stage

With a quick back and forth jerk, make sure dough will release from the peel easily. Place the tip of the peel at the back of the preheated pizza stone, and remove the peel so that the pizza is left on the stone.

9. Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until the crust begins to brown, 4 to 6 minutes.

10. Stage

Slide the pizza onto the peel and remove from the oven; then slide off the peel onto a work surface. Sprinkle 1/2 of the basil leaves randomly over the pizza. Cut into wedges and serve. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

11. Stage

Follow Steps 5 through 9 to make the second pizza. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios