Okay, technically this is called a "Grandma Pizza," but I ain't no grandma.
I've noticed a trend over the last couple of years where online bread and pizza dough recipes are using WAAAAAY more yeast than is necessary to get a beautiful and consistent rise and oven spring. They are recommending 2.5% to 4% yeast weight compared to flour weight. 1% to 1.5% is generally the max to use. Rustic breads are even less, like as little as .5% Too much yeast can actually cause breads to be flat, not risen.
Fermenting bread causes flavor. The faster bread ferments, the less flavor it will have. If too much yeast is used, a long fermentation (2+ days), even a cold ferment, will cause really unpalatable flavor elements.
The recipe below, developed by me, used minimal yeast initially (1/8 tsp), and only 1 additional tsp later. The flavor results were fantastic.
KA stands for King Arthur.
Overnight Whole Wheat Pan Pizza Dough
This was AWESOME! Process worked. The fermented dough flavor was apparent even with the strong sausage toppings. Texture was soft, but strong.
First Ingredients
120g KA Whole Wheat Flour
120g KA Bread Flour
120g KA AP Flour
9g fine sea salt
.5g (⅛ tsp) instant yeast
270g room temp water
Mix all ingredients to form a ragged dough leaving no dry flour. Cover with cling wrap and bulk ferment on the counter for 18-24 hours.
Stretch and fold in the bowl with a wet hand to strengthen the gluten. You'll feel the difference after 4-6 stretch and folds.
Second Ingredients
50g room temp water
4g (1 tsp) sugar
4g (1 tsp) instant or active dry yeast
100g (¾ cup + 1 level Tbs) AP Flour
Dissolve sugar and yeast into water. Add the liquid and flour to the fermented dough. Use a wet hand to incorporate fully. Wet hand as often as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
Cover with cling wrap and rest 15-30 minutes.
Put a half cup of AP flour on a working surface. Add the rested dough. Sprinkle top with more AP flour. Flatten, fold, roll tight, then tuck and rotate to build surface tension.
Place back in the floured bowl, cover, and rest 30-60 minutes.
Liberally use extra virgin olive oil on a half baking sheet. Ensure the bottom and sides are well oiled.
Add the pizza dough. Coat top with more oil. Use fingertips to flatten and spread toward corners. If dough draws back, cover with a second half baking sheet and rest 10-15 minutes. Repeat the spread, cover, and rest 2-3 times until the corners are reached.
Build pizza. Cheeses first, then sauce, garlic/onions, and finally meats. Cook at 450°F for 30-35 mins. Cut into 24 square pieces (cut in half lengthwise, then each half lengthwise. Then 5 even cuts crosswise.