Description
This Classic Margherita Pizza is a traditional Italian favorite featuring a thin, crispy crust topped with a vibrant tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella slices, fragrant basil leaves, and a hint of garlic and oregano. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, this easy-to-make pizza highlights simple, fresh ingredients for a delicious and authentic taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 lb pizza dough
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Toppings
- 3/4 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat thoroughly, ensuring a crispy crust during baking.
- Roll Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness and transfer it onto a sheet of parchment paper for easy handling.
- Prepare Base: Lightly brush the rolled dough with olive oil, then evenly spread the tomato sauce over the surface, leaving a border for the crust to develop.
- Add Toppings: Arrange the slices of fresh mozzarella over the tomato sauce, then sprinkle minced garlic, salt, and oregano evenly over the cheese.
- Transfer Pizza: Carefully transfer the pizza along with the parchment paper onto the hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven.
- Bake: Bake the pizza for 12-15 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese is bubbly with slight browning.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately top it with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a crispier crust, bake the pizza directly on the oven rack or a preheated pizza stone without parchment paper.
- Adjust the quantity of garlic and oregano to your taste preference to customize the flavor profile.
