Recipe: Make this delicious Margherita pizza at home
The Margherita pizza, a timeless Italian classic, hails from Naples and is named after Queen Margherita of Savoy. It's said to represent the colors of the Italian flag: red (tomato), white (mozzarella), and green (basil). This dish not only holds a cherished spot in Italian cuisine but has also won hearts worldwide. Check out its recipe and cook this today.
Gather the following ingredients
To create this classic Margherita pizza, you will need a 250-gram ball of pizza dough, one cup of hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes, 200 grams of thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese, a generous handful of fresh basil leaves, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt adjusted to your taste preference, and either semolina or cornmeal to dust the pizza peel.
Prepare your dough
Start by preheating your oven to its highest setting, between 475-500 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're using a pizza stone or steel, put it in the oven at this time. Stretch your pizza dough into a 12-inch circle on a surface dusted with flour. For authenticity and thickness control, use your hands. To prevent sticking, dust your pizza peel with semolina or cornmeal.
Add toppings sparingly
Spread the crushed tomatoes evenly over the dough's surface, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust. Distribute slices of mozzarella cheese on top of the tomato base. Remember that less is more; overloading can result in a soggy pizza. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt to enhance flavors.
Bake to perfection
Slide your pizza onto the preheated stone or steel with care. Bake it in the oven for eight to 10 minutes, watching as the crust turns a perfect golden brown and the mozzarella cheese bubbles and starts to develop those sought-after slight char marks. The intense heat is crucial for achieving the Neapolitan-style blistered crust that makes this pizza an authentic delight.
Finish with fresh basil
Immediately after baking, top your Margherita pizza with fresh basil leaves. This adds a splash of color and a hint of freshness. The pizza's residual heat will gently wilt the basil, releasing its aromatic essence. Serve it hot, cut into slices, to fully enjoy the classic taste and aroma of this traditional Italian favorite at its very best.
