Description
Mouthwatering homemade margherita pizza brings classic Italian flavors straight to your kitchen with minimal ingredients and maximum taste. Crisp crust, melted mozzarella, and fresh basil create a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pizza crust (e.g., Tiseos Frozen Pizza Dough)
- 1 3/4 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 10 large basil leaves
Sauce and Cheese:
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Finishing Ingredient:
- 2 tablespoons butter (for brushing crust)
Instructions
- Dust a clean work surface with flour and gently stretch the pizza dough into a thin, circular shape, ensuring an even thickness across the base.
- Whisk together tomato paste, a splash of olive oil, water, dried oregano, and a pinch of salt to create a vibrant, smooth pizza sauce with balanced seasoning.
- Transfer the stretched dough onto a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet, allowing a slight overhang for a rustic edge.
- Ladle the prepared sauce evenly across the dough, leaving a small border around the perimeter for a crisp crust.
- Generously scatter shredded mozzarella cheese, creating a creamy blanket that will melt beautifully during baking.
- Arrange fresh tomato slices in a circular pattern, overlapping slightly for an elegant presentation and burst of fresh flavor.
- Sprinkle torn basil leaves across the pizza, distributing them to ensure each slice will have aromatic herbs.
- Slide the pizza into a scorching 475°F oven and bake until the cheese transforms into golden bubbles and the crust turns a deep, crisp golden brown, approximately 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and brush the outer crust with melted butter, then dust with finely grated Parmesan for an extra layer of savory richness.
- Let the pizza rest for 2-3 minutes, then slice into wedges and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Use a pizza stone or preheated baking sheet for a crispier, restaurant-style crust that mimics authentic Italian pizza texture.
- For gluten-free option, swap traditional wheat flour dough with cauliflower crust or store-bought gluten-free pizza base to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Fresh ingredients make a massive difference – opt for San Marzano tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella for an elevated flavor profile that transforms the entire pizza experience.
- Let the dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling to ensure better elasticity and easier stretching without tearing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg