Prep time: 40 mins | Cooking time: 10 – 12 mins | Makes: 1 large pizza
Ingredients
- 150ml warm water – around 27 degrees
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 15g fresh yeast (or 2 level teaspoons of dry yeast)
- 225g of plain flour (plus extra for working)
- 1.5 teaspoons of salt
- Extra virgin olive oil (and a little for drizzling)
- 80g of PizzaExpress passata (or any tomato passata you have)
- 70g mozzarella (or any cheese you have)
- Oregano
- 1 Basil leaf (if you have one)
- Black pepper
- Handful of cooked or blanched spinach
- 7grms of Parmesan cheese (if you have it)
- 6-7 olives (black work best)
- One egg
- Garlic oil (olive oil will do)
Pizza Express also shared a clip of one of their staff members attempt of making the pizza at home
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 230°C.
2. Add the sugar and crumble the fresh yeast into warm water.
3. Allow the mixture to stand for 10 – 15 minutes in a warm place (we find a windowsill on a sunny day works best) until froth develops on the surface.
4. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl, make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil.
5. Lightly flour your hands, and slowly mix the ingredients together until they bind.
6. Generously dust your surface with flour.
7. Throw down the dough and begin kneading for 10 minutes until smooth, silky and soft.
8. Place in a lightly oiled, non-stick baking tray (we use a round one, but any shape will do!)
9. Spread the passata on top making sure you go to the edge.
10. Evenly place the mozzarella (or other cheese) on top, season with the oregano and black pepper, then drizzle with a little olive oil.
11. Remove a small amount of cheese from the middle of the pizza to make a circular space for your egg
12. Place black olives around the edges of your pizza base
13. Place spinach around the pizza leaving the middle empty for your egg
14. Season with oregano and black pepper
15. Sprinkle some garlic oil over the top
16. Crack the egg in the middle of the pizza. Tip: For a perfectly cooked yolk, sprinkle some olive oil over the egg before cooking. If you prefer it well done, break the yolk before placing the pizza into the oven.
17. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 10-11 mins (keeping a close eye on your pizza to get a perfectly cooked egg)
18. Finish with some grated Parmesan cheese (if you have it)
19. Eat and enjoy!