The Best Authentic Margherita Pizza (Classic & Easy Recipe!)
A classic and simple recipe for an authentic Margherita Pizza. This dish features a simple, fresh, no-cook tomato sauce made in a food processor with high-quality San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic. A homemade or store-bought pizza dough is stretched, topped with the sauce and pieces of fresh mozzarella cheese, and then baked in a very hot oven until the crust is crisp and browned. The pizza is finished with a garnish of fresh basil leaves, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil after it comes out of the oven.
Ingredients
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 2 small garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Cornmeal, for dusting the baking sheet
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, torn or thinly sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- Red pepper flakes, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 500°F. If using store-bought dough, let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to stretch.
- Make the Sauce: In a food processor, combine the tomatoes and their juices, 2 teaspoons of olive oil, the garlic, and the salt. Process until smooth.
- Dust a baking sheet with cornmeal. Place the pizza dough on the baking sheet and stretch it into a large oval or circle.
- Spread a heaping ½ cup of the prepared tomato sauce evenly over the pizza dough, leaving a 1-inch border for the crust.
- Top the sauce with the pieces of mozzarella cheese.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the hot oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust is browned and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove the pizza from the oven. Top with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Drizzle with a little more olive oil before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Baking the pizza at a very high temperature is a key technique for achieving a crisp, pizzeria-style crust.
- Using high-quality San Marzano tomatoes will result in a sweeter, more flavorful sauce.
- The fresh basil is added after the pizza is baked to preserve its delicate, fresh flavor and prevent it from burning.
- The recipe makes more sauce than is needed for one pizza; the extra can be refrigerated or frozen for later use.
Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/margherita-pizza/