Sourdough Discard Pizza Crust Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes active | Rest Time: 1–24 hours (flexible)
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (minimum) to 24 hours (maximum)
Intensity Level: Moderate (requires planning, not skill)
Why This Recipe Works
Stop throwing away that sourdough discard! This pizza crust turns “unfed” starter from a waste problem into a chewy, tangy, crispy dinner hero. Unlike standard pizza dough, this version requires no long fermentation or commercial yeast — it leverages the existing acidity and mild fermentation power of your discard to create a digestible, flavorful crust in under two hours (or overnight if you plan ahead).
Key benefits:
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Uses 100% unfed discard (straight from the fridge)
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No yeast packet needed
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Crispy bottom, airy interior, sourdough tang
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Freezes beautifully for meal prep
Time & Intensity Breakdown
| Phase | Duration | Intensity Level |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing & Kneading | 10 minutes | Easy |
| First rest (autolyse/relax) | 30 minutes | Zero (hands-off) |
| Stretch & fold or brief knead | 5 minutes | Easy |
| Bulk rise (flexible) | 1–24 hours | Low (just waiting) |
| Shaping & topping | 10 minutes | Moderate (handling sticky dough) |
| Baking | 10–12 minutes | Moderate (oven heat) |
Overall Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) — Great for confident beginners.
Ingredients
For the dough (makes 2 x 10–12 inch pizzas):
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250g (about 1 cup) sourdough discard (unfed, at any hydration 100% is ideal but 80–125% works)
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250g (2 cups) bread flour (or all-purpose + 1 tbsp vital wheat gluten)
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5g (1 tsp) salt
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10g (2 tsp) olive oil (plus more for hands & bowl)
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120g (½ cup) warm water (90–100°F / 32–38°C)
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Optional: 5g (1 tsp) sugar or honey (helps browning if your discard is very old/sour)
For assembly:
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Semolina or cornmeal (for the peel/stone)
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Toppings of your choice
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2–3 tbsp extra olive oil or garlic butter for brushing the edge
Nutrition Information (per ½ crust, before toppings)
*Approximate values. Calculated for 1 serving = ¼ of total dough (one small pizza).*
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 245 kcal |
| Protein | 7g |
| Total Fat | 4.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.6g |
| Carbohydrates | 43g |
| Fiber | 1.5g |
| Sugars | 0.5g |
| Sodium | 290mg |
| Iron | 2.2mg (12% DV) |
