Recipe for Margherita Pizza – Enthusiastic Cooking

Recipe Particulars

Pizza dough tastes much better when prepared at home. And this Margherita Pizza recipe is so flavorful with its uncomplicated components, you’ll want to prepare it repeatedly.

• TASTE: This Margherita pizza is a timeless blend of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and earthy basil.
• TEXTURE: The crust is crunchy with a slight chewiness, and the melted mozzarella is delicious with the concentrated sauce.
• TIME: It takes 40 minutes to make.
• EASE: This formula is so easy to prepare, even if you’ve never made pizza before, I’ll demonstrate how to do it properly the very first time.

Essential Ingredients

Notes on Components

• Homemade pizza dough–  It’s straightforward to prepare with my pizza dough recipe that incorporates flour, salt, yeast, extra virgin olive oil, and a few other elements. However, any pizza dough will suffice.
• Tomato Basil Sauce- This provides the perfect flavor to this Margherita Pizza.
• Mozzarella– You can swap out grated cheese, but I’ve discovered that the block cheese performs best. We’re also utilizing freshly sliced mozzarella as a topping.
• Tomatoes– Ripe tomatoes on the vine are excellent with this pizza, but you could also use Roma tomatoes or others.
• Basil– Fresh basil is essential for this pizza. So, skip the dried herbs.

Additions and Replacements

• Swap another sauce- You can use any tomato sauce that you prefer. Simply opt for a thicker one so the sauce isn’t watery and seeps into the crust.
• Incorporate meat- While it’s not traditional, feel free to add some shredded chicken breast, ground beef, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, or sausage.
• Incorporate garlic- Freshly minced garlic contributes a delightfully pungent flavor to this Margherita Pizza.
• Use pre-made dough- If you’re short on time to prepare your dough, then you can also utilize store-bought, pre-made dough.

Preparing Margherita Pizza

• Bake the dough. Spread the dough onto a pizza pan and generously puncture it with a fork. Then bake it at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
• Add the sauce and shredded cheese. Spread the tomato basil sauce and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella on top of the dough.

• Include the tomatoes and mozzarella slices. Add a layer of the sliced mozzarella and tomatoes. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.
• Garnish with basil. Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish it with the basil leaves. Add Parmesan cheese on top and serve.

Pro Tip:  Add the basil leaves after baking to maintain their freshness and color, preserving their flavor and appearance.

Cooking Suggestions

• Use San Marzano tomatoes- This is the best homemade Margherita Pizza and these rich, sweet tomatoes are the perfect choice to top it with. If you have to choose, this would be a good option.
• Use block mozzarella- Pre-shredded mozzarella is convenient, but because it is coated in starch to prevent sticking, it does not melt as effectively.
• Puncture the pizza dough with a fork- This step helps to aerate the crust, allowing steam to escape as the dough bakes so it crisps on the bottom.
• Add the basil at the end- Adding the basil leaves after removing the pizza from the oven or in the last few minutes of baking keeps their flavor and color intact. Otherwise, they wilt and get soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Recommendations

This homemade Classic Pizza recipe is uncomplicated, delightful, and amazing with other dishes. Serve it alongside spaghetti, green salads, condiments, and bite-sized snacks.

• Spaghetti: This pizza goes well with pasta dishes like this Pesto Gnocchi, Chicken Alfredo Lasagna, Pasta Pomodoro, and Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta (VIDEO).
• Green Salad: Present it with an Antipasto Salad, Caprese Salad, Spinach Salad, or Tomato Garlic Salad.
• Condiments: Enjoy this Classic Pizza alongside some Crab Artichoke Dip, 7 Layer Taco Dip, Hot Artichoke Dip, or Easy BLT Dip.
• Bite-sized snacks: If you’re serving this pizza on a buffet, serve it with some BBQ Chicken Wings, Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (VIDEO), or Copycat Pizza Hut Breadsticks.

Prepare This Recipe in Advance

Prepare beforehand: You can prepare the dough in advance and freeze it, making this a great dinner for a busy weeknight. Just thaw the dough, add toppings, and cook.

Storage: Store this Classic Pizza wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Layer parchment paper or foil between layers to keep them from sticking together.

Freezing: You can freeze this pizza wrapped in foil and plastic wrap, or placed in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months.

More Delicious Pizzas!

Complete Recipe Directions

• Spread the dough onto a pizza pan and prick it generously with a fork.

• Bake the dough at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.

• Distribute the tomato basil sauce and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella on top of the partially cooked dough.

• Layer the sliced mozzarella and tomatoes. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.

• Add the basil leaves after removing the pizza from the oven or add it in the last few minutes of baking.

• Utilize San Marzano tomatoes- This is the finest homemade Classic Pizza and these rich, sweet tomatoes are the ideal choice to top it with. If you have to choose, this would be a good option.
• Utilize block mozzarella- Pre-shredded mozzarella is easy to work with, but because it is covered in starch to avoid sticking, it doesn’t melt as well.
• Prick the pizza dough with a fork- This step helps to aerate the crust, allowing steam to escape as the dough bakes so it crisps on the bottom.
• Add the basil at the end- Adding the basil leaves after removing the pizza from the oven or in the last few minutes of baking keeps their flavor and color intact. Otherwise, they wilt and get soggy.

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.2g | Protein: 14.9g | Graisse: 8.8g | Gras saturés: 4.8g | Cholestérol: 34mg | Sodium: 585mg | Fibre: 2.1g | Sucre: 4.4g

This recipe was initially shared on July 8, 2016, we have made some adjustments since.