Margherita Pizza

Margherita Pizza is one of the most classic and honored Italian recipes. Homemade pizza dough is topped with olive oil, fresh garlic, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil.

Simplicity is key, and nothing could be more true about a homemade pizza that comes straight from the old country. I have not been to Italy yet, but when I do make my way there, I will only live off of pizza and pasta the entire time. My first introduction to this practically perfect pizza was at one of my favorite restaurants in Las Vegas ages ago. I ordered my first Margherita Pizza there and ate the entire thing. I came back home and got to work in the kitchen so I could recreate this incredible pie.

MARGHERITA PIZZA

This recipe is an ode to keeping things simple and fresh. This is the secret to a successful pizza. Homemade pizza dough starts as the base with freshly minced garlic and mozzarella cheese. No tomato sauce on this pie! All the tomato you need is in the slices on top of the cheese. Finish with fresh basil for an aromatic layer to each bite. Since the recipe list is rather short for this pizza, I recommend getting the highest quality of ingredients. You won’t regret it!

INGREDIENTS

• Recipe for My Best Pizza Dough
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 4 medium Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 3 cups freshly grated Mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 7 large basil leaves, torn into small pieces
• salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Oil a large pizza pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil and minced garlic. Add the tomato slices and let them marinate for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes are up, remove tomatoes from the oil and set aside.

Spread pizza dough out onto the prepared pizza pan. Brush the dough with the olive oil/garlic mixture. Sprinkle both cheeses evenly over the top of dough. Place tomato slices evenly over the cheese.

Bake pizza in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the edges of the pizza are golden brown. Carefully remove pizza from the oven.

Sprinkle the torn basil leaves evenly over the top. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

TRADITIONAL OVENS AND PIZZA OVENS

I have only used my traditional conventional oven to bake this pizza many times, and it works wonders. Now, if you have one of those woodfired pizza ovens in your backyard, it will only enhance the flavor of this amazing pizza. That is one backyard accessory I am trying to convince Kale to get for the Lofthouse. 😄

PREP AND COOK TIME

I have some great news for you here! You can have this piping hot, fresh, and ready to slice pizza on your table in less than 45 minutes! As long as you preheat the oven while you are assembling the pie, then you will be eating a slice of pizza in hardly any time. The pizza dough is super simple to make, so you can also prepare it the day before and let it rest in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE OF MY FAVORITE PIZZAS!

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza – Pineapple belongs on pizza! BBQ sauce as the base with mozzarella, chicken, and juicy pieces of fresh pineapple.

Chicken Alfredo Pizza – This crisp thin pizza has a creamy Alfredo sauce base with tender pieces of chicken on top.

Supreme Pizza Ring – Take all of the toppings and shove them inside the dough! All of your favorite supreme pizza classics are rolled up inside crescent dough.

BBQ Chicken Bacon Pizza – Smoky BBQ sauce at the base with tender pieces of chicken, crispy bits of bacon, and tons of melted cheese on top.

Print Pin

Margherita Pizza

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Holly

Ingredients

• 1 recipe for my best pizza dough or use one premade large pizza crust
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 4 medium Roma tomatoes thinly sliced
• 3 cups freshly grated Mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 7 large basil leaves torn into small pieces
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Oil a large pizza pan. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl combine olive oil and minced garlic. Add tomato slices and let tomatoes marinate for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes is up, remove the tomato slices from oil and set aside.
• Spread pizza dough out onto prepared pizza pan. Brush dough with the olive oil/garlic mixture. Sprinkle cheeses evenly over the top of dough. Place tomato slices evenly over the cheese.
• Bake pizza in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until edges of pizza are golden brown. Remove pizza from oven. Sprinkle the torn basil leaves evenly over the top. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.
• Season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Yields: 1 large pizza

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