Homemade Margherita Pizza
Homemade Margherita Pizza is a quintessential Neapolitan pizza made with 3 signature topping: vibrant tomato sauce, delicate mozzarella, and fresh basil. This classic pizza is a testament to elegant simplicity.
Servings: 8
Calories: 319kcal
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil divided
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour for dusting
- 1 lb pizza dough
- ½ cup pizza sauce see recipe below for a full batch of sauce
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese fior di Latte (regular), buffalo, or shredded
- 3-6 basil leaves
Pizza Sauce
- 14 oz crushed tomatoes about 1¾ cups
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Let dough temper - Place dough on a lightly floured work surface and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.1 lb pizza dough, 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- Preheat oven - Place the oven rack in the middle tier and preheat the oven to 475°F.
- Pizza sauce - Make the pizza sauce. In a bowl, mix the crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, and extra virgin olive oil until combined. Salt to taste.½ cup pizza sauce, 14 oz crushed tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt
- Prepare pizza - Stretch the dough by hand or use a rolling pin to create a 12-inch circle or a 9x13" rectangle. Lightly oil a pizza pan or baking sheet with half of the olive oil and place the dough on in the pan. Use a ladle to scantily spread pizza sauce on the dough, using the back of the ladle or a spoon to smooth out the sauce in a circular motion. Leave about an inch around the edges for the crust. Then, top the pizza with mozzarella and some of the basil leaves.2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 8 oz mozzarella cheese, 3-6 basil leaves
- Bake pizza - Bake pizza on the middle rack for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the bottom of the crust is lightly browned.
- Serve - Remove from the oven and cut into 8 slices. Top with more fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.3-6 basil leaves
Video
Notes
Storage
- Refrigerate leftover pizza in an air-tight container or wrapped in foil for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat it, enjoy it cold, at room temperature, or warm it in the oven at 300°F on a baking sheet for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Fresh ingredients are key - Since this pizza is so simple, we suggest high quality ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil.
- Spread the dough slowly and carefully to ensure the dough has an even thickness without any holes.
- Let the dough rest until it is room temperature so it will be easy to mold and cook evenly.
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 555mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 373IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 1mg