Few dishes capture the essence of simplicity and flavor like a classic Margherita pizza. With its crispy crust, tangy tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and fresh basil, this pizza is a celebration of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Perfect for any pizza night, it’s a timeless favorite that never fails to impress.
Margherita Pizza
Why This Margherita Pizza Is the Best
Crispy and Chewy Crust: The crust is perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, providing the ideal base for the toppings. It’s baked to golden-brown perfection with just the right amount of char.
Fresh and Tangy Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce is made from fresh, ripe tomatoes, giving it a bright and tangy flavor that complements the cheese and basil beautifully.
Melted Mozzarella: The mozzarella cheese melts perfectly, creating a gooey, cheesy topping that’s hard to resist. It browns slightly in the oven, adding a delicious depth of flavor.
Fresh Basil: The addition of fresh basil leaves adds a burst of color and a fresh, aromatic flavor that ties all the elements together.
Ingredient Notes:
Pizza dough: The base of the pizza, provides the structure for all the toppings.
Extra virgin olive oil: Adds flavor and helps to crisp up the pizza crust.
Minced garlic: Infuses the sauce with a fragrant, savory depth.
Canned San Marzano tomatoes: Provide a rich, sweet, and tangy tomato sauce, which is the heart of the pizza.
Salt: Enhances the flavors of the sauce and cheese.
Fresh mozzarella: Melts beautifully and provides a creamy, rich texture, characteristic of Margherita pizza.
Basil: Adds a fresh, aromatic finish, enhancing the overall flavor of the pizza.
Serving Suggestions
Straight from the Oven: Margherita pizza is best enjoyed hot, straight from the oven. The cheese is melty, and the crust is perfectly crispy.
With a Side Salad: Pair this pizza with a fresh green salad to balance out the richness of the cheese and sauce. A simple vinaigrette dressing works well.
For Pizza Night or Gatherings: This pizza is perfect for feeding a crowd. It’s easy to make in large quantities and always a crowd-pleaser.
Tips for Perfect Margherita Pizza
Use High-Quality Ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the flavor. Look for high-quality tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil for the best results.
Preheat the Oven: Make sure your oven is fully preheated before baking the pizza. A hot oven ensures a crispy crust and evenly melted cheese.
Bake on a Pizza Stone: If you have a pizza stone, use it! It helps achieve a crispy crust by evenly distributing heat.
A Must Try
There’s nothing quite like the smell of Margherita pizza baking in the oven. This Margherita Pizza is the perfect way to treat yourself or your loved ones to something special. Crispy, cheesy, and irresistibly delicious, it’s sure to become a favorite in your home.
Margherita Pizza
Ingredients
- With 1 lb. Dough for pizza store-bought or homemade*
- 2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of minced garlic 2 cloves
- 1 2/3 cups of canned tomatoes and juices, finely hand-crushed
- 2 pincers of salt
- 8 of an oz. Chopped into 3/4-inch cubes fresh mozzarella
- 1/4 cup Small basil leaves or chopped basil ribbons
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 550°F and place a pizza stone inside. Let it heat for at least 45-60 minutes.
- While the stone heats, warm olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for about 20 seconds, until lightly golden.
- Add tomatoes, season with salt, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens and reduces to about 1 cup, which should take 15-20 minutes.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions. Note that you can only bake one pizza at a time.
- Shape each dough portion into a 13-inch oval, working with one piece of dough at a time.
- Transfer the shaped dough to a well-floured pizza peel. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella over the dough, then spread about 1/2 cup of sauce on top.
- Carefully slide the pizza from the peel onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake for 4-7 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Repeat the process with the remaining dough. Once baked, sprinkle fresh basil on the pizzas, slice, and serve immediately while warm.
- If using store-bought dough, let it come to room temperature before shaping.
Notes
- Most recipes use canned tomatoes directly, but you may like to simmer and reduce them to concentrate the flavor and avoid a soggy crust. Adding extra virgin olive oil and garlic to the sauce, while not always common, really boosts the flavor and makes a noticeable difference.
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Margherita Pizza