Description
Margherita pizza celebrates Naples’ culinary heritage with simple, fresh ingredients. Crisp crust, melted mozzarella, and fragrant basil invite you to savor a classic Italian masterpiece.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 batch pizza dough
- 14 oz (397 g) San Marzano tomatoes
- 8 oz (226 g) fresh mozzarella cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves
- Salt
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 475°F, positioning a pizza stone for optimal heat distribution if accessible.
- Gently crush San Marzano tomatoes in a mixing vessel, enhancing with a light sprinkle of salt for balanced flavor.
- Using a floured work surface, carefully stretch the pizza dough into a circular shape approximately 12 inches wide, ensuring an even thickness.
- Ladle the seasoned tomato sauce across the dough’s surface, creating a thin, uniform layer that reaches near the edges.
- Artfully scatter torn mozzarella pieces across the sauce, allowing for natural coverage and melting potential.
- Transfer the prepared pizza onto the preheated stone or baking tray, positioning in the center of the oven.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until the crust transforms into a golden-brown hue and the cheese develops a bubbly, slightly charred texture.
- Extract the pizza from the oven and immediately embellish with freshly torn basil leaves.
- Conclude by delicately drizzling extra virgin olive oil across the surface, then slice and serve while piping hot.
Notes
- Ensure the pizza stone or baking tray is preheated thoroughly to achieve a crispy, restaurant-style crust that doesn’t become soggy.
- Use high-quality San Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella for an authentic Italian flavor that elevates the entire pizza experience.
- For a gluten-free option, swap traditional wheat dough with cauliflower or almond flour crust, maintaining the classic Margherita spirit while accommodating dietary needs.
- Allow the pizza to rest for 1-2 minutes after baking to help the cheese set and make slicing easier, preventing ingredients from sliding off when cut.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg