Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Taverna Rustic Italian Wilmington›Margherita Recipe

Margherita Recipe

Inspired by Taverna Rustic Italian Wilmington
Time1h 30m
Serves2

house made mozzarella, tomato sauce, torn basil

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Ingredients

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Dough

Tomato Sauce

Toppings

Method

Dough Preparation

  1. 1

    Activate Yeast

    In a small bowl, combine warm water and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until frothy.

  2. 2

    Mix Ingredients

    In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour and salt. Add the activated yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir until a dough forms.

  3. 3

    Knead Dough

    Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

  4. 4

    Let Dough Rise

    Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.

Tomato Sauce Preparation

  1. 5

    Prepare the Sauce

    In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  2. 6

    Add Tomatoes

    Add canned whole tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and chopped basil to the saucepan. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, breaking the tomatoes down with a spoon.

  3. 7

    Blend the Sauce

    Once thickened, remove from heat and blend the sauce until smooth (optional). Set aside.

Pizza Assembly

  1. 8

    Preheat Oven

    Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up.

  2. 9

    Shape the Dough

    Once the dough has risen, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Roll it out into a circle about 12 inches in diameter.

  3. 10

    Add Sauce

    Transfer the dough to a pizza peel or baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the dough.

  4. 11

    Add Cheese and Toppings

    Evenly distribute the house-made mozzarella and torn basil on top of the sauce. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

  5. 12

    Bake the Pizza

    Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or place the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.

  6. 13

    Serve

    Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a minute, slice, and enjoy your Margherita pizza!

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