Homemade Einkorn Pizza Dough and Crust

This delicious Homemade Einkorn Pizza Dough and Crust is thin and crispy, just like the pizzas we enjoyed on our recent trip to Italy. The inspiration for this recipe came on a food tour we took in Rome that had me obsessed with this style of pizza.

If you are new to pizza making, this is a great, simple way to make pizza that is guaranteed success, even using einkorn flour. Speaking of einkorn, while I typically use whole grain einkorn for all my baking, I went with a homemade all-purpose einkorn for this recipe. More on this below.

Einkorn is a wonderful grain to work with, if it is new to you, let me share a few of my favorites: Einkorn pasta, einkorn crackers, einkorn sandwich bread, einkorn chocolate chip cookies, einkorn pancake recipe.

Working with einkorn flour

• With its low-gluten content, there is no need to over knead dough made with einkorn flour. It just doesn't work.
• It does not absorb as much liquid as other whole grain flours. While The dough should be tacky (slightly sticky), it should not be too moist. Don't overdo it.
• Give it time to rest, it will absorb moisture, just slower than other whole wheat flour.
• There is a difference between whole grain einkorn flour and all-purpose einkorn flour. All-purpose einkorn flour has been sifted, removing the bran and germ. I chose it for this pizza recipe to make it a smoother, easier to work with dough. You can also use whole grain flour, but add just a touch more water.
• If you have bought your einkorn flour, be sure to check it for freshness before using it. I check the date, but also take a look at the flour and smell it.

Ingredients

• All-purpose einkorn flour- you can also use whole grain flour, just know you may need to add a little more water.
• Active dry yeast
• Salt- Kosher salt is my favorite to use.
• Olive oil- Use the best quality you have.

How to make

Making the einkorn pizza dough

• Start by activating your yeast. Place it in the water, mix it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it foamy.
• Add in the remaining ingredients and knead for about 8 minutes. If you are using a stand mixer, mix for 6 minutes until the dough is smooth. I like to do a combination of both. I start the dough in my stand mixer, then once the ingredients are smooth, I will switch to kneading it by hand.

Chilling the einkorn pizza dough

• Divide the dough in 4 pieces. Oil them and place them a container and let the dough chill overnight or for at least 6 hours.
• When you are ready to bake, bring the dough to room temperature. How long this takes will depend on the temperature and humidity in your house. My house is 70 degrees and the dough took about 3 hours to come to room temperature.

Forming the pizza

• If you are baking it in the oven, like I did, heat a baking sheet in the hot oven. Then I make the pizza on a piece of parchment, then slide that parchment paper with the pizza onto the hot baking sheet.

• Roll out your pizza dough until it is very thin. I made mine into ovals that are about 12 inches long and 8 inches wide. Top the pizzas however you like and bake until it is golden brown and crispy.

Topping ideas for pizza

1. Margherita: Fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, fresh basil, and olive oil.
2. Ricotta and delicata pizza- one of my newest and favorite pizza toppings.
3. Pepperoni: Classic pepperoni slices with melted cheese and tomato sauce.
4. Mushroom and Onion: Sautéed mushrooms and onions with mozzarella and thyme.
5. BBQ Chicken: Grilled chicken, red onions, barbecue sauce, and cilantro.
6. Prosciutto and Arugula: Prosciutto with fresh arugula added after baking.
7. Fig and Gorgonzola: Figs, gorgonzola cheese, caramelized onions, and balsamic glaze.
8. Pesto Chicken: Grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, and basil pesto.
9. Pear and Brie: Sliced pears, brie cheese, walnuts, and honey.
10. Hawaiian: Ham, pineapple chunks, and mozzarella.
11. Caprese: Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil with balsamic glaze.
12. Mexican Fiesta: Seasoned beef or chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeños, and cheddar.
13. Mediterranean: Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, red onions, tomatoes, and feta.
14. Egg and Bacon: Crispy bacon strips with a cracked egg after baking.
15. Truffle Mushroom: Sautéed mushrooms, truffle oil, and Parmesan.
16. Buffalo Chicken: Shredded buffalo chicken, celery, and blue cheese dressing.

Other einkorn recipes

• Dinner
• Baked
• Einkorn Flour