Margherita

The Authentic Margherita Pizza

The Margherita pizza is a masterpiece of Italian cuisine, celebrated for its elegant simplicity and the perfect balance of its three core ingredients, symbolizing the colors of the Italian flag: red (tomato), white (mozzarella), and green (basil). This recipe focuses on achieving that authentic balance, allowing the quality of each component to shine through, resulting in a pizza that is comforting, flavorful, and truly iconic.

Yields: 1 medium (10-12 inch) pizza Prep time: 20 minutes (plus dough rising time) Cook time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients:

• For the Pizza Dough:
  • 1 standard pizza dough ball (homemade or good quality store-bought, about 250-300g / 9-10 oz)
    • (If making homemade, ensure it has risen and is ready to use.)
• For the Classic Tomato Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup San Marzano (or good quality crushed tomatoes)
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced (optional, for subtle flavor)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
• For the Topping:
  • 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced or torn into small pieces (preferably fresh mozzarella in water, drained well)
  • A handful of fresh basil leaves (about 8-10 leaves)
  • A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (for finishing)
  • Pinch of sea salt (for finishing)
  • Optional: Pinch of dried oregano