Over the last few years the artisan trend has emerged, infiltrating the culinary industry and now commonly being used as a marketing technique to pull in customers.

Traditionally, artisan refers to the method in which something is made and what it is made of. For something to be labelled artisan it involves specialist knowledge from the maker and is always crafted by hand from fresh, local produce meaning each product slightly unique.

Introducing artisan style food can be a great way to encourage extra custom, people are always seeking out less processed and manufactured food, not only for the superior taste but also because it is seen to be a healthier option. Pizza can be a great way to introduce this trend into your business as they are simple and cheap to make, maximising your profit with a more premium priced product.

Try our simple recipe;

Ingredients (Makes 4 10inch pizzas)                                         Equipment

The Dough                                                                                             Pizza Pan
625g all purpose flour                                                                           Dough Scraper
1 Tablespoon honey                                                                              Dredger
2 Teaspoons table salt                                                                           KitchenAid                            
1 Teaspoon instant yeast                                                                      Cutter
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil                                                Mixing Bowl
500ml water lukewarm                                                                        Cling Film 
                                                                                                                        Saucepan
The Sauce
800g tomatoes- blanched, skinned and crushed
Handful of fresh basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 cloves of crushed garlic
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt and black pepper

Method

1. Mix all of the ingredients in a planetary mixer using the paddle attachment. Once thoroughly combined set the dough aside for 5 minutes.

2. After the dough has had a chance to expand, dust a clean work surface with flour using a dredger. Knead your dough for a further 5 minutes adding a little extra four or water if needed. If you find your dough is sticking to the surface a scraper will help to manipulate and knead.

3. Place your dough in a mixing bowl and cover with cling film or a damp cloth. Leave at room temperature for a few hours until the size has doubled. Meanwhile this will be a good time to make your sauce.

4. Stir everything together in a saucepan over a low heat for a few minutes then set aside to cool. Preheat your oven to 400°c.

5. After the dough has doubled in size take it out of the bowl and use your scraper to cut into 4 equal portions.

6. Take your pizza pan and stretch the dough to your desired thickness on the pizza pan, apply the sauce and add your homemade artisan style toppings. Bake for 5 minutes at a time and check until crust is gold and crispy.

7. Finish by slicing your pizza with a cutter and serving it on a rustic style presentation board, slate will work perfectly with the artisan theme, showing off your pizza at its best.

The Perfect Crust
The crust on your pizza is one of the most important factors and people are often very particular about how they like it, here are some tips on how to achieve 2 popular styles.

 • Thin and Crispy –Use only one tablespoon of oil and swap out 125g of plain flour for strong bread flour. Stretch the dough thin and bake as close to the heat source as possible without burning.

 • Thick and Chewy - Substitute 250ml of water for milk and add an extra tablespoon of oil. Also add an extra tablespoon of honey and another half a teaspoon of yeast. Ensure you don’t roll the dough to thin and make sure you bake it up a shelf so that it can cook longer without burning.


By Eva Parks