McDougalls Pizza Base Mix 3.5 kg

I am annoyed at just how much fresh pizza is to buy when the ingredients are so cheap and they are so simple to make. I had faffed about making pizza dough from scratch in my bread maker which was successful, but this mix cuts down the effort even more. I also trust this brand.If you're an experienced cook or baker, skip the next bit! It's intended to help you out if you haven't made bread before ...Weigh out the amount of flour you need into a large bowl (you could add chopped fresh or dry herbs at this point, or grated Parmesan works well), add the necessary volume of hand hot water (ie if your hand feels neither hot nor cold when you dip your finger in!) according to the instructions on the packet (depending on how many you're cooking for), mix to a dough and knead for 5 minutes - or use an electric mixer using a dough hook, on a medium setting for the same amount of time.Leave to prove at room temperature - I use a bowl covered with a damp cloth over it to stop the dough from drying out.After the dough has doubled, or more, in size just knead it again on a floured surface for about a minute. Cut the dough into the size pizza you require, and roll out each piece thinly. If you prefer a thicker base, simply allow it to prove again for a while AFTER you've rolled it out.Another discovery I made (thank you, Jamie Oliver - 'Jamie Oliver's Italy') was that the Italians' traditionally flash fried the base first, 30 seconds each side in HOT vegetable oil. I set mine on to kitchen roll to soak up any excess oil. At this point, you can simply drizzle with garlic infused olive oil, finely grate Parmesan cheese over it, and tear up fresh rocket over the top. My favourite!Add your fresh ingredients before finishing off the cooking under a grill. Takes no time at all. Jamie's recipe for the tomato sauce base is excellent, but there are plenty of variations on the Internet to suit us all! Mozzarella cheese is a must (never use cheddar as I've known some Brits to do!). There are a multitude of delicious toppings you can put on top (great way of getting the kids to eat vegetables!) or for the fussiest of eaters, the straightforward Margherita is delicious when home made. My children really enjoyed the fun of choosing their toppings so it's a good way of getting them involved and frankly, keeping them occupied!Making mini sized, individual pizza I find ideal so that everyone can choose what they like. My 6-year old twins invited two of their school friends for supper - I was able to make and cook the bases in advance so that they could get stuck straight in to customising their own.This is a big bag so will feed plenty more 'starving' children - and husbands!!Highly recommended product.

Although grossly overpriced (from where I sourced it, but that’s Coronavirus for you) the product makes really good pizzas. It’s very easy to use, but it’s worth experimenting a bit with quantities. Calculating from the guidance on the packet I mix 125grams of the mix with, initially, 30ml of lukewarm water(about 30 degrees but not critical) and a slug of olive oil and give it 5 minutes in the mixer. I add a little extra water if the dough fails to pick up the dry flour. Using these quantities gives a roughly 11 inch pizza base.If you want a thin crispy base roll out the dough and use straight away. For a thicker base allow the dough to prove, knock it back and then roll. I cook it in a barbecue pizza oven but I’m sure a pizza stone in a conventional oven would also work well ( one to try when it’s raining).The 3.5kg bag has a roughly two month ‘use by’ window so I’m considering freezing batches of the dry mix in the hope that it doesn’t degrade.It’s a lovely day. Pizza on the menu tonight!

Would recommend this to family and friends

Bought this as lockdown had removed all flour from the shops, it is expensive but Friday night home made Pizza is a family tradition.Needed salt adding otherwise flavour was bland but maybe that's just our preference.

Arrived on time and well packaged even with my name printed on the actual flour bag along with the person who prepared the packaging! The instructions were simple and easy to follow making the preparation process effortless. The brilliant quality of the product supersedes expectation and can rival any commercially bought pizza, in fact it is better. My husband and I wanted a deep base pizza and it was exactly as we desired but also tasty, soft and full bodied. We highly recommend this product if you want a frustration free, fresh and delicious experience. Thanks to the seller.

This makes great pizza!! Better than a takeaway and cheaper. It’s really easy to use just add warm water mix and leave in a warm place for a bit. You get a lot of pizzas out of a bag as well. Will definitely buy again!!

This is amazing pizza base. Third bag I've had.Follow instructions but I use 8oz flour with warm water to get to right consistency in my Kenwood (Others are available!) This makes a 14" pizza base. YumI also use mixture of red pesto and tomato puree which I find better. Season well and keep simple ingredients. Only use mozzarella as cheddar too strong methinks.Also suggest put oven on as hot as you can and place in when at temp. It cooks the pizza quicker and fresher than longer lower temps and base puffs up in places which makes it great to look at.Your kids will love helping make these and eating them too. You won't order in after you have made a few of these as nothing compares and you know whats going in them!Happy cooking.

This is very good pizza mix, easy to use and it makes nice pizzas. However, the use by date is very short. I bought this in July 2020 and it had a use by date of August 2020. I would expect longer than a month!