step 1
Place the Unbleached All Purpose Flour (2 cups), Salt (3/4 tsp), Instant Dry Yeast (1/2 tsp), Water (3/4 cup), and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (1 Tbsp) in the bowl of a stand mixer or other medium-large mixing bowl.
step 2
Stir everything together to make a shaggy, sticky mass of dough with no dry patches of flour. This should take 30-45 seconds in a mixer using the beater paddle; or about 1 minute by hand, using a spoon or spatula.
step 3
Scrape down the sides of the bowl to gather the dough into a rough ball; cover the bowl for 5 minutes.
step 4
After 5 minutes, uncover the bowl and reach a bowl scraper or your wet hand down between the side of the bowl and the dough, as though you were going to lift the dough out. Instead of lifting, stretch the bottom of the dough up and over its top. Repeat three more times, turning the bowl 90 degrees each time.
step 5
Re-cover the bowl, and after 5 minutes do another fold. Wait 5 minutes and repeat; then another 5 minutes, and do a fourth and final fold.
step 6
Cover the bowl and let the dough rest, undisturbed, for 40 minutes.
step 7
Then refrigerate it for a minimum of 12 hours or up to 72 hours. It'll rise slowly as it chills, developing flavor; this long rise will also add flexibility to your schedule.
step 8
About 3 hours before you want to serve your pizza, prepare your pan. Pour the remaining Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (1 1/2 Tbsp) into a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet that’s 10 to 11-inches in diameter across the top, and about 9-inches across the bottom.
step 9
Tilt the pan to spread the oil across the bottom, and use your fingers or a paper towel to spread some oil up the edges, as well.
step 10
Transfer the dough to the pan and turn it once to coat both sides with the oil. After coating the dough in oil, press the dough to the edges of the pan, dimpling it using the tips of your fingers in the process. The dough may start to resist and shrink back; that’s ok, just cover it and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
step 11
Repeat the dimpling/pressing. At this point the dough should reach the edges of the pan; if it doesn’t, give it one more 15-minute rest before dimpling/pressing a third and final time.
step 12
Cover the crust and let it rise for 2 hours at room temperature. The fully risen dough will look soft and pillowy and will jiggle when you gently shake the pan.
step 13
About 30 minutes before baking, place one rack at the very bottom of the oven and one toward the top - about 4 to 5-inches from the top heating element. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
step 14
When you’re ready to bake the pizza, sprinkle Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (1 1/2 cups) evenly over the crust. Cover the entire crust, no bare dough showing; this will yield caramelized edges.
step 15
Dollop small spoonfuls of the Tomato Sauce (1/2 cup) over the cheese; laying the cheese down first like this will prevent the sauce from seeping into the crust and making it soggy. Sprinkle on the remaining Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (1/2 cup).
step 16
Arrange the Grape Tomatoes (7 1/2 cups) on top of the cheese, with some cut-side facing up and the rest cut-side facing down. Sprinkle lightly with Coarse Kosher Salt (to taste).
step 17
Bake the pizza on the bottom rack of the oven for 18-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and the bottom and edges of the crust are a rich golden brown (use a spatula to lift the pizza and check the bottom). If the bottom is brown but the top still seems pale, transfer the pizza to the top rack and bake for 2-4 minutes longer. On the other hand, if the top seems fine but the bottom's not browned to your liking, leave the pizza on the bottom rack for another 2-4 minutes.
step 18
Remove the pizza from the oven and place the pan on a heatproof surface. Carefully run a table knife or spatula between the edge of the pizza and the side of the pan to prevent the cheese from sticking as it cools.
step 19
Let the pizza cool very briefly; as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, carefully transfer it from the pan to a cooling rack or cutting surface. This will prevent the crust from becoming soggy. If you're not serving it right away, a cooling rack is the better choice to maintain a crisp crust on the bottom.
step 20
If desired, top the pizza with Parmesan Cheese (to taste) and Fresh Herbs (to taste). Serve the pizza anywhere from medium-hot to warm.
