Gone are the days when we could just pop out to fulfil our cravings…
Now, we actually have to work for it. And while it previously seemed like we’d never reach the culinary heights of our favourite restaurants, popular chains across the country have been sharing their recipes for us to try at home. Following in the footsteps of much-loved restaurants Wagamama and Nando’s, Pizza Express has offered up the recipe for their iconic dough balls, and they’re pretty easy to make too.
Here’s what you need to get started:
The dough balls (serves 2):
- 150ml of warm water
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 15g of fresh yeast (or 2 level teaspoons of dry yeast)
- 225g of plain flour
- 1.5 teaspoon of salt
- Extra virgin olive oil
The garlic butter:
- 10ml of extra virgin olive oil
- 4x teaspoons of butter
- Half a teaspoon of chopped garlic
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 230 degrees (or 210 degrees if you have a fan oven).
- Grab a mixing bowl and add the water to it, before chucking in the sugar and crumbling the yeast into it.
- Allow to stand for 10-15 minutes and allow the mixture to froth.
- Take a separate mixing bowl and sift the flour into it, along with the salt.
- Make a well into the middle of your flour and salt mixture, and pour the yeast mixture into it.
- Lightly flour your hands, and mix the ingredients together til they bind.
- Gently dust a space on your worktop with flour.
- Put the dough onto the worktop, and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and soft.
- Leave the dough to rest until soft to the touch, but not too springy.
- Roll the dough into a 1.2m long ‘tube’.
- Chop into 16 balls and place in an ovenproof pan.
- Leave the balls to rest in the pan for 30 minutes.
- Bake in the oven for 6 minutes, until golden.
- Blend 10ml of olive oil and chopped garlic until it becomes a paste.
- Pour to paste over your portion of butter and blend together with a spoon.
- Pop the garlic butter in a serving dish of your choice and serve.
[Featured image: Pizza Express]