My favorite pizza in all the pizza restaurants is Margherita. This is my favorite… hands down. Logically I had to create my own classic Margherita pizza recipe That rivals the pies I had in Italy.
I really feel like you can judge how legit a pizzeria is by how good their margarita is. If they can’t make a good profit…pizza in its simplest and purest form…then I have little hope for any of their other zas. It may be hard, but it has worked for me so far!
The crust in this recipe is a Neopolitan crust Which means it’s thin. We like it thin and chewy. This recipe for flawless pizza dough and the perfect compliment to the simple and subtle yet bold taste of margherita pizza.
Amazing recipes have to be complicated and have a grocery list a mile long, right? Erroneous! The crust only has 5 ingredients, the sauce has 2, and the toppings have 3. It really couldn’t be simpler! Here’s what you’ll need:
dough:
- Baker’s flour (or 00 flour): essential to achieve the desired chewy crust on pizza, see section below for more details
- Water: It needs to be warm (105-115 degrees Fahrenheit) to activate the yeast properly
- Sea salt: go for fine grains, adds flavor to the crust
- Sugar: nourishes the yeast
- Instant yeast: Do not use active dry yeast
sauce:
- San Marzano tomatoes: you can use crushed, whole, diced…whatever you find…it all ends up in a blender
- Sea salt: adds flavor to the sauce
Extras:
- Fresh mozzarella: you can use as much or as little of the cheese as you want
- Fresh basil: I like to leave the leaves whole and sprinkle them on top, use as much as you like
- Olive oil: adds a little more classic flavor to the margarita
The measurements of each ingredient can be found on the recipe card below. You can also save or print the recipe from there.
None of these tools are absolutely essential, but they will make your pizza even more amazing and frankly easier to move the pizza around and get it just right!
What is margherita pizza?
Pizza Margherita is a pizza usually made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt and extra virgin olive oil.
What is Baker’s Flour?
Baker’s flour Similar to bread flour in that it has a higher protein content which helps create more gluten which makes the bread chewier. Just what you want in a pizza crust!
You can also use 00 flour in this recipe, but it’s a little harder to find. If you are willing to pay a little more and work a little harder to find it, I like the results I get with this flood. It is a finely ground Italian flour often used for pasta and pizza dough.
For our readers in Utah, I find both of these flours at Harmon’s, but if you’re not near a Harmon’s, you can find them on Amazon or Whole Foods.
What is a San Marzano tomato?
San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomatoes. Plum tomatoes are a type of tomato used to make sauce.
They are usually oval or cylindrical in shape, and usually have a higher solids content, with less juice.
Does margherita pizza contain alcohol?
Margherita pizza made with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese.
The alcoholic drink has nothing to do with pizza.
How do you heat pizza?
First of all why? Cold pizza is so good! But I know people have strong feelings about it so the best way to heat a pizza is on a stove top.
Heat a heavy pan to medium and add a drop of oil. Place the pizza in the pan and cook for 2 minutes until the bottom is crispy.
Lower the heat to low and add 2 drops of water along the edge of the pan, not near the pizza. Cover with a lid for a minute, until the cheese melts.
Of course, if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to put in the effort, just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
it’s simple. It’s delicious…my favorite pizza ever! do it Margherita pizza recipe For your next homemade pizza night with the family! I just know you’re going to love it!
More pizza recipes that you will surely like:
Dishes: 4 pizzas
For the sauce:
- 1 tin San Marzano tomatoes 14 oz (**see note)
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt finely chopped
For additions:
- 8 courage Fresh mozzarella torn to pieces
- basil Fresh and whole leaves, you only need a few
- Olive oil Drizzle on top
For the crust:
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Prepare the crust according to the instructions in the linked recipe 24 hours in advance.
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About 60-90 minutes before baking, take the dough out of the refrigerator until it comes to room temperature.
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Place a pizza stone on the top shelf of the oven and preheat the oven to 550 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.
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Once the pizza stone is ready prepare your pizza dough by lightly dusting the stone with flour and shaping the dough by pressing from the middle outwards and rotating the dough as you go.
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Dust a pizza crust with a little flour and place the dough on top.
For additions:
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Spread the tomato sauce to your liking on the door leaving a 1/2 to 1 inch border around the edge, just smooth it with the back of a spoon.
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Move the oven to cook for five minutes. Gently slide the pizza from the pizza peel and onto the pizza stone inside the oven. Immediately lower the oven back to 550 degrees
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Let the pizza bake for a few minutes, then open the door and slide the pizza back onto the pizza peel. In Italy at this stage they said you could drizzle a small spoonful of olive oil over the whole pizza or you could go straight for chunks of mozzarella and fresh basil leaves.
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Slide the pizza back onto the pizza stone in the oven for another 1 to 2 minutes. At this point you can remove it and add a little more olive oil or just eat it as it is.
**This can be hard to find so if you need to use 28 oz either use half or double the sauce and freeze half
***Store in the refrigerator with a label for 5-7 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
Nutrition facts
Classic margherita pizza
Quantity per serving (one pizza)
calories 204
Calories from fat 117
% daily value*
Fat 13 grams20%
Saturated fat 8 grams50%
Polyunsaturated fat 1 gram
Monounsaturated fat 4 grams
Cholesterol 45 mg15%
sodium 929 mg40%
potassium 344 mg10%
carbohydrates 9 grams3%
Fiber 2 grams8%
Sugar 5 grams6%
protein 14 grams28%
vitamin 604IU12%
Vitamin C 9 mg11%
calcium 322 mg32%
iron 2 mg11%
* The percentage of daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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