Pizza Maison

° Serves 4

Everyone loves pizza, but most people buy it ready-made because they think it’s too hard to prepare themselves. Made with frozen bread dough, this pizza requires very little work and the result is spectacular and delicious. I top my pizza with tomato, garlic, herbes de Provence, and mozzarella, but you can create your own variations—try Swiss or Fontina cheese, zucchini, or onions.

• 8 ounces packaged fresh or frozen bread or pizza dough, defrosted if frozen
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus for garnish, if desired
• 1 large ripe tomato (7 to 8 ounces), sliced
• 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thin
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 5 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated (about 1½ cups)
• Hot pepper flakes, for garnish (optional)

Place the dough on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Dampen your hands and spread the dough out into a round about 11 inches in diameter. The dough will tend to shrink back; press it firmly with the tips of your fingers. (If you’re adept at manipulating pizza dough, you can hold the dough on your closed fist and pull and extend it as pizza makers often demonstrate in pizza parlors.) The dough should be ¼ inch thick, with a slightly thicker edge.

Spread 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over the entire surface of the dough. Then lift the dough, turn it over, and spread it out again in the pan. Arrange the tomato slices evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle with the garlic, herbes de Provence, salt, pepper, and mozzarella, then drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Let rise at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bake the pizza for 25 to 30 minutes, until nicely browned and crusty on top. Cut into slices and serve sprinkled with pepper flakes and a little additional olive oil, if desired.

Create your own pizza quickly and easily by using frozen dough.