Basic pizza dough

Instructions

1. Combine the yeast, sugar and water in a small bowl and stir to mix. After 5 to 10 minutes, the mixture should look foamy. Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a plastic dough blade or a metal blade and pulse to mix. Add the yeast-water mixture and 1½ tablespoons of oil and run the machine in short bursts to obtain a smooth, soft dough. It should be moist but not sticky. If necessary add more flour a spoonful at a time, running the machine between additions, until the dough is the proper texture. You can also make the dough in a mixer fitted with a dough hook: Place the yeast, sugar and water in the mixer bowl. When foamy, add 1½ tablespoons oil, and the salt and flour. Mix at low speed to form a smooth, soft dough.
2. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead it by hand for a few minutes. Lightly coat a large bowl with the remaining oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1½ hours.
3. Punch down the dough and let rise until doubled in bulk again, about 1 hour. This second rising isn’t absolutely imperative, but your crust will be lighter if you have the time to do it.