How to Make Pizza Dough With Khorasan Flour: An Easy Homemade Crust

If you want to experiment with ancient grains in homemade pizza, Khorasan flour is a practical place to start. Idaho Ancient Grains already uses Khorasan for pizza crust and describes it as a versatile flour that can also be used for bread, pasta, cakes, pastries and sourdough.

The key when working with Khorasan is to pay attention to the dough rather than treating it exactly like a conventional wheat-flour recipe. Idaho Ancient Grains notes that Khorasan absorbs water readily and recommends using about 25% less Khorasan flour when substituting it into a regular recipe.

This guide walks through the farm's Khorasan pizza crust method and answers common questions about making pizza with Khorasan flour.

Can You Make Pizza Dough With Khorasan Flour?

Yes. Idaho Ancient Grains has a dedicated Khorasan pizza crust recipe using its white all-purpose Khorasan flour. The recipe makes two large pizzas or four personal pizzas.

The crust uses water, instant yeast, oil, sugar, Khorasan flour and salt, making it a straightforward introduction to baking with this ancient grain.

Khorasan Pizza Dough Ingredients

• 2 cups water

• 1 tablespoon instant yeast

• 1 tablespoon canola or avocado oil

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• 2+ cups white Khorasan all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  

Step 1: Combine the Wet Ingredients

Add the water to your mixing bowl, then add the instant yeast, oil and sugar.

Step 2: Add Khorasan Flour and Salt

Add 1 1/2 cups of white Khorasan all-purpose flour, then place the salt on top of the flour. Mix the ingredients together.

Step 3: Add More Flour Gradually

Slowly add additional Khorasan flour until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl. The exact amount can vary, so use the dough itself as your guide rather than adding all the flour at once.

Step 4: Knead the Dough

Continue kneading for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Idaho Ancient Grains recommends adding a small amount of olive oil at the end if needed to keep the dough moist.

Step 5: Let the Dough Rest

Allow the dough to rest for about 10 minutes. This is also a convenient time to prepare your pizza toppings.

Step 6: Divide and Roll

Divide the dough into two portions for large pizzas or four portions for personal pizzas. Roll the dough onto pizza pans.

Step 7: Add Your Toppings

Add your favorite pizza sauce, cheese, vegetables, meats or other toppings. Keep the toppings balanced so the crust can bake properly.

Step 8: Bake the Pizza

Bake at approximately 435°F for about 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden. Baking time can vary depending on your oven, pan and thickness of the crust.

Why Use Khorasan for Pizza?

Khorasan is versatile enough to work in pizza dough while also being useful across many other types of baking. Idaho Ancient Grains lists pizza crust alongside bread, noodles, pasta, cakes, donuts, pie crusts and pastries as uses for Khorasan.

That makes pizza a useful way to experiment with the flour before moving into more complicated baking.

What Does Khorasan Pizza Crust Taste Like?

The flavor will depend on the flour, toppings, fermentation and baking method. Idaho Ancient Grains describes its Khorasan as having a golden color and a buttery, sweet character when baked.

That makes it an interesting option if you want a pizza crust with a different grain character from a standard white-flour crust.

Can You Use Whole Khorasan Instead of White Khorasan Flour?

Yes, but the dough will not be identical. The Idaho Ancient Grains pizza crust recipe uses white all-purpose Khorasan flour. Whole Khorasan will produce a different texture and dough behavior.

If you mill whole Khorasan at home, start with a recipe designed for whole-grain flour or use a blend with white flour while you learn how the dough behaves.

Can You Mix Khorasan With Spelt for Pizza?

Yes. Idaho Ancient Grains regularly mixes Khorasan and Spelt in bread and other doughs. Its recipe collection also includes pizza rolls using a mixture of Spelt, Khorasan, hard white wheat and hard red wheat.

If you want to experiment with a blend, change one ingredient at a time so you can identify how the flour combination affects the crust.

Why Is My Khorasan Pizza Dough Too Wet?

Khorasan can absorb water readily, but dough hydration still depends on the flour and recipe. Add flour gradually rather than adding a large amount at once.

The Idaho Ancient Grains pizza recipe specifically instructs the baker to slowly add more Khorasan flour until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl.

Why Is My Khorasan Pizza Dough Too Dry?

If the dough becomes difficult to work with, avoid adding more flour immediately. A small amount of additional moisture or oil may help, depending on the stage of the recipe.

The goal is a workable dough that can be rolled without becoming excessively dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Khorasan flour good for pizza dough?

Yes. Idaho Ancient Grains has a dedicated Khorasan pizza crust recipe using white all-purpose Khorasan flour.

How much Khorasan flour do I need for pizza dough?

The Idaho Ancient Grains recipe starts with 2+ cups of white Khorasan all-purpose flour and adds more gradually until the dough reaches the desired consistency.

What temperature do you bake Khorasan pizza at?

The Idaho Ancient Grains recipe calls for approximately 435°F for about 15 minutes, until the crust is golden.

Can I use Spelt and Khorasan together for pizza?

Yes. Idaho Ancient Grains uses both grains together in other dough recipes, so a blend can be an option for experimentation.

Does Khorasan contain gluten?

Yes. Khorasan is a wheat grain and is not gluten-free.

Can I use Khorasan flour for sourdough pizza?

Khorasan can be used in sourdough, and Idaho Ancient Grains specifically says it works well for feeding a sourdough starter. A sourdough pizza formula would require its own fermentation and hydration adjustments.

The Bottom Line

Khorasan flour can make a practical homemade pizza crust, and Idaho Ancient Grains already has a simple recipe built around its white Khorasan all-purpose flour.

Start by following the basic method, add flour gradually, avoid overworking the dough, and give yourself room to adjust the recipe based on the texture you see.

Once you are comfortable with Khorasan pizza dough, you can experiment with Spelt blends, different toppings, whole-grain flour and eventually sourdough pizza.