Margherita Pizza Recipe
Classic pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil.
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Ingredients
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Dough
Toppings
Method
Dough Preparation
- 1
Activate Yeast
In a small bowl, combine warm water (about 110°F/43°C) with sugar and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- 2
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt.
- 3
Combine Mixtures
Once the yeast is activated, add it to the flour mixture along with olive oil. Stir until a dough begins to form.
- 4
Knead the Dough
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- 5
Let it Rise
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Pizza Assembly
- 6
Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up.
- 7
Roll Out Dough
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it onto a floured surface. Roll it out into a 12-inch circle.
- 8
Add Sauce
Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the rolled-out dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
- 9
Add Cheese
Tear the fresh mozzarella cheese into small pieces and distribute them evenly over the sauce.
- 10
Season
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- 11
Bake Pizza
Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven (or onto the pizza stone) and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- 12
Garnish and Serve
Once baked, remove the pizza from the oven and immediately top with fresh basil leaves. Let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
