Sourdough Pizza in Cast Iron Skillet

Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe for Cast Iron Skillet:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sourdough starter (fed and active)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Cornmeal or semolina flour (for dusting)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Sourdough Starter: If your sourdough starter has been in the fridge, take it out and let it come to room temperature. Make sure it's active and bubbly before using it in the recipe.

2. Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sourdough starter, all-purpose flour, bread flour, salt, and olive oil. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.

3. Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour.

4. First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise at room temperature for about 4-6 hours, or until it doubles in size. Alternatively, you can let it rise in the refrigerator overnight for a slower fermentation. You can also store the dough for several days in the fridge if you do not want to use it right away.  Please note the longer the dough is in the fridge the more "sour" it will taste.  I do not recommend storing longer than 3 days. 

5. Preheat the Oven  About 30 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to the highest temperature it can go, usually around 500-550°F (260-290°C). 

6. Shape the Dough: Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down gently to release the air. Transfer it to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a round ball. Let it rest for about 15 minutes. Then, using your hands or a rolling pin, flatten and stretch the dough into a circle slightly smaller than the size of your cast iron skillet.

7. Prepare the Skillet: Place the Skillet on a burner on a medium heat, I put a tablespoon of garlic butter in the skillet and press the dough into the pan.  This will prevent the dough from sticking and give the crust a nice crisp texture.  You can also add a little parmesan for a burnt cheese style crust as well, it is up to you. 

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8. Assemble the Pizza: Once the stretched dough is in the skillet add your desired pizza toppings while the bottom of the crust is starting to crisp. Start with sauce, cheese, and other toppings of your choice.  My personal favorite is sauce, ricotta cheese dollops, mozzerlla, chopped broccoli, that is finished with fresh basil after it has come out of the oven.

9. Bake the Pizza: Put the skillet into the oven and bake the pizza for about 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.  For a Darker finish on the top you can turn the broiler on for the last minute to really brown the cheese and toppings. 

10. Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven using oven mitts. Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious sourdough pizza!

Feel free to customize the toppings according to your preference. This recipe should yield a flavorful and crispy crust that's perfect for a homemade pizza night!