Margherita Pizza

35 minutes Prep Time
20 minutes Cook Time
8 Servings

A thin, crispy crust lets the tomato flavor shine in this Neapolitan-inspired pizza! Use the freshest mozzarella and basil to complete the simplicity of this classic Italian pie.

Ingredients

  • Crust
  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Topping
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can Tuttorosso® San Marzano Style Hand Crushed Tomatoes in Puree with Basil & Sea Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
  • 6 fresh basil leaves

Instructions

Step one

Stir together yeast, 1 tablespoon flour, and 1/4 cup warm water in a large bowl and let stand until surface appears creamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn’t appear creamy, discard and start over with new yeast.)

Step two

Add 1 1/4 cups flour, remaining 1/2 cup water, salt, and oil and stir until smooth. Stir in enough flour (1/4 to 1/3 cup) for dough to begin to pull away from side of bowl. (Dough will be slightly wet.)

Step three

Knead on a floured surface, lightly re-flouring when dough becomes too sticky, until smooth, soft, and elastic, about 8 minutes. Form into a ball, put in a bowl, and dust with flour. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, about 1 1/4 hours.

Topping & Pizza – Step one

Cook garlic in oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until fragrant and pale golden, about 2 minutes. Add hand crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt and black pepper; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to about 3/4 cup; 40 minutes. Allow to cool before assembling the pizza

Step two

At least 45 minutes before baking pizza, put stone on oven rack in lower third of electric oven (or on floor of gas oven) and preheat oven to 500° F.

Step three

Do not punch down dough. Dust dough with flour; then transfer to a parchment-lined cutting board. Pat out dough evenly with your fingers and stretch into a 14-inch round, re-flouring fingers if necessary.

Step four

Spread sauce over dough, leaving a 1-inch border (there may be some sauce left over). Arrange cheese on top, leaving a 2- to 3-inch border.

Step five

Slide pizza on parchment onto pizza stone. Bake until dough is crisp and browned and cheese is golden and bubbling in spots, 13 to 16 minutes. Using baking sheet and spatula, transfer pizza to a cutting board. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle with some basil leaves before slicing.

Step six

Option for Pizza Crust use a prepared or refrigerator crust in place of homemade crust.

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