Timeless Classic Margherita Pizza Recipe for Pizza Night Joy

Pizza lovers rejoice as this classic margherita pizza recipe brings the authentic taste of Naples right to your kitchen.

The simple yet sublime margherita pizza blends fresh ingredients with traditional techniques.

Ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil create a mouthwatering harmony of flavors.

Each bite promises a delightful journey through Italian culinary tradition.

The crispy, thin crust serves as the perfect canvas for these vibrant ingredients.

Crafted with passion and precision, this recipe captures the essence of rustic Italian cooking.

Let’s find out this delectable margherita pizza and savor a slice of pure culinary magic.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients to Make Classic Margherita Pizza at Home

• Bread Flour or All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and authentic pizza texture, with bread flour offering slightly more protein for chewier crust.
• Instant Yeast: Rapid-acting leavening agent that helps dough rise quickly and develops rich flavor.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall dough flavor and controls yeast fermentation process.
• Lukewarm Water: Activates yeast and hydrates flour, creating smooth and elastic dough consistency.

• Tomato Sauce: Classic Margherita foundation with bright, tangy flavor that complements other ingredients.
• Fresh Mozzarella: Creamy, soft cheese that melts beautifully and provides rich, delicate dairy notes.

• Olive Oil: Adds luxurious flavor, helps create golden crust, and brings ingredients together.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Intensifies overall taste and provides delightful subtle crunch.
• Fresh Basil Leaves: Vibrant herb that adds fresh, aromatic complexity and traditional Italian character.

Tools You’ll Need for Classic Margherita Pizza

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining ingredients and allowing dough to rise.
• Whisk: Essential for blending dry ingredients smoothly.
• Rubber spatula: Great for mixing dough and scraping sides of the bowl.
• Damp cloth: Helps cover dough during rising process.
• Pizza stone: Crucial for achieving crispy, restaurant-style pizza crust.
• Pizza peel: Helps transfer pizza into the hot oven with ease.
• Parchment paper: Prevents sticking and makes sliding pizza simple.
• Sharp knife or pizza cutter: Needed for slicing the finished pizza.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.
• Cutting board: Useful for shaping dough and adding toppings.

Instructions to Cook a Flavorful Classic Margherita Pizza

• Flour Blend Initial mixing of dry ingredients in a spacious container, combining flour with salt and yeast until perfectly integrated.
• Liquid Integration gentle water addition creating soft, slightly tacky dough texture using smooth stirring motions.
• Resting Period allowing dough to expand and develop complex flavors in warm environment for approximately 90 minutes.
• Surface Preparation creating clean workspace with light flour dusting for comfortable pizza crafting.
• Dough Shaping gentle stretching and forming of soft dough into circular base with delicate hand movements.
• Topping Selection careful arrangement of fresh tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, and vibrant basil leaves across pizza surface.
• Cooking Process high temperature baking on stone surface creating crispy golden crust with melted cheese perfection.
• Final Touch elegant plating and immediate serving to capture maximum flavor and texture experience.

Classic Margherita Pizza Tips and Creative Twists

• Let your dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before shaping to make stretching easier and prevent tough textures.
• Use fresh, high-moisture mozzarella and pat it dry with paper towels to prevent soggy pizza and achieve perfect golden browning.
• Pizza stones provide crispier crusts by absorbing moisture, while baking sheets work well for home cooks without specialized equipment.
• Brush olive oil around the pizza crust's edge before baking to create a golden, crispy finish that adds rich, savory notes to your pizza.
• Experiment with additional ingredients like fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil to elevate the classic Margherita flavor profile.

Serving Ideas for Classic Margherita Pizza You’ll Love

• Pizza Night Party Platter: Create a vibrant pizza-sharing experience by arranging multiple Margherita pizzas on a large wooden board, surrounded by fresh basil sprigs, extra olive oil for drizzling, and crushed red pepper flakes for guests who love a spicy kick.
• Wine and Slice Pairing: Complement the classic Margherita with a crisp Italian white wine like Pinot Grigio or a light Vermentino, which beautifully balances the pizza's rich tomato and cheese flavors without overpowering the delicate ingredients.
• Fresh Side Salad Companion: Serve alongside a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette and shaved parmesan, providing a peppery, bright contrast to the warm, cheesy pizza and adding a refreshing element to the meal.
• Casual Outdoor Dining Setup: Transform your pizza into a perfect al fresco experience by serving on rustic plates, using a checkered tablecloth, and enjoying in a garden or patio setting that captures the authentic Italian street food atmosphere.

Smart Storage and Meal Prep Tips for Classic Margherita Pizza

• Dough Advance Prep: Mix pizza dough up to 24 hours before your meal. Refrigerate in a sealed container to develop deeper flavor profiles and enhance texture complexity.
• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover pizza slices in airtight containers, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Refrigerated pizzas maintain quality for 3-4 days when properly sealed.
• Freezer-Friendly Technique: Wrap individual pizza slices in aluminum foil, then place inside freezer-safe bags. Frozen pizzas remain delicious for up to 2 months when protected from freezer burn.
• Reheating Magic Trick: Revive cold pizza slices using a skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Warm on medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, creating a crispy bottom and melted cheese without drying out the crust.

Authentic Margherita Pizza Recipe

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• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Homemade margherita pizza delivers authentic Italian flavors with fresh mozzarella, basil, and San Marzano tomatoes. Crisp pizza crust and simple ingredients make this dish a delightful culinary experience you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups / 512 g bread flour or all-purpose flour
• 1.75 to 2 cups / 400 to 454 g lukewarm water
• 3 oz / 85 g fresh mozzarella
• 2 oz / 56 g tomato sauce
• 1 tsp / 4 g instant yeast
• 2 to 3 tsp / 12 g kosher salt
• Olive oil for drizzling
• 1 pinch of flaky sea salt
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Whisk flour, salt, and active dry yeast in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough ingredient integration.
2. Dough Hydration: Pour lukewarm water into the dry ingredient well, stirring with a spatula to create a cohesive, slightly tacky dough texture. Massage extra virgin olive oil into the dough surface for enhanced moisture.
3. Proofing Process: Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm, undisturbed location for 1-1.5 hours until dramatically expanded in volume.
4. Oven Preparation: Position pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 550°F (288°C) for at least 45 minutes to guarantee a crisp, perfectly cooked crust.
5. Pizza Shaping: Flour a work surface, divide the risen dough into portions, and gently stretch each into 10-12 inch rounds. Transfer bases to parchment-lined pizza peels.
6. Topping Assembly: Spread San Marzano tomato sauce, distribute fresh mozzarella pieces, and drizzle extra virgin olive oil. Season with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper.
7. Baking Finale: Slide pizza onto the blazing hot stone, baking 4-5 minutes until the crust transforms to a golden hue and cheese becomes molten and effervescent. Remove, garnish with fresh torn basil leaves, slice, and serve immediately for peak gastronomic delight.

Notes

• Prep Surface Strategically: Dust your work area generously with flour to prevent sticky dough complications and ensure smooth pizza base handling.
• Temperature Matters: Preheating the pizza stone for 45 minutes guarantees an authentically crispy, restaurant-style crust with perfect golden-brown edges.
• Dough Rising Secrets: Place the covered dough in a warm, draft-free spot like a turned-off oven or near a sunny window to encourage optimal fermentation and volume.
• Cheese Distribution Pro Tip: Scatter mozzarella pieces unevenly for a rustic, artisanal look that creates delightful pockets of melted cheese in every slice.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 55 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg