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Authentic Margherita Pizza topped with fresh basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes

Authentic Margherita Pizza

Recreate the irresistible aroma and taste of a classic Margherita pizza right in your kitchen with fresh ingredients and simple steps.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dough and Sauce
  • 1 batch pizza dough Homemade or store-bought
  • 14 oz San Marzano tomatoes Crushed
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese Torn into pieces
  • to taste salt For seasoning the tomatoes
Toppings
  • to taste extra virgin olive oil For drizzling
  • a handful fresh basil leaves Torn for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Warm the oven to 475°F, positioning a pizza stone if available.
  2. Gently crush San Marzano tomatoes in a mixing vessel and sprinkle with salt for flavor.
  3. Stretch the pizza dough into a circular shape approximately 12 inches wide on a floured work surface.
Assembly
  1. Ladle the seasoned tomato sauce across the dough, leaving a small border at the edges.
  2. Sprinkle torn mozzarella evenly over the sauce.
Baking
  1. Transfer the pizza onto the preheated stone or baking tray and place in the center of the oven.
  2. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden-brown and the cheese is bubbly.
Serving
  1. Remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with torn basil leaves.
  2. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, slice, and serve hot.

Notes

Invest in quality ingredients for the best flavor. Stretch dough by hand to keep it airy. Less is more with toppings to maintain the pizza's simplicity.