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Classic Margherita Pizza

Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 Italian 🇮🇹 High-Protein 💪Vegetarian 🥦Halal 🕌Kosher ✡️Comfort-FoodPescatarian 🐟

Classic Margherita Pizza features a crisp, airy crust topped with bright tomato sauce, creamy pools of fresh mozzarella, and fragrant basil. Finished with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, it balances tangy, milky, and herbal notes in every bite. Perfect for a relaxed dinner, weekend pizza night, or sharing with friends.

  • Prep30 mins
  • Cook10 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyMedium
Classic Margherita Pizza
  1. 1

    In a bowl, stir together the flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, combine the water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit until the yeast forms a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Stir half of the flour mixture into the yeast mixture until no dry spots remain. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. When the dough comes together, turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

  4. 4

    Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in it, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a light cloth and let rise in a warm place (80 to 95 degrees F (27 to 35 degrees C)) until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Punch the dough down, divide it into 4 equal portions, and shape each into a ball.

  5. 5

    Preheat the oven with a pizza stone to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).

  6. 6

    Stretch and pat 1 dough ball into a 10- to 12-inch circle. Place it on a lightly floured pizza peel. Top with 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and spread it, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange 5 slices of mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then place 5 basil leaves on top. Drizzle the pizza with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining 3 dough balls.

  7. 7

    Slide each pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the underside of the crust is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.