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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Whisk flour, salt, and active dry yeast in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough ingredient integration.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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