The pizza Margherita, with its enduring simplicity and vibrant flavors, is a worldwide favorite Italian classic. With its crimson tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and fresh green basil, this pizza honors the Italian flag, which is named after Queen Margherita.
Creating the ideal Margherita pizza is an art that begins with the use of the finest ingredients and a command of the oven. Whether you are a seasoned pizzaiolo or a novice, this article, will explain how do you make a margarita pizza.
Ingredients
For Pizza Crust
- 1 ball Best Pizza Dough (or Food Processor Dough or Thin Crust)
For The Pizza Sauce
- 1/2 of a medium-sized garlic clove
- 15 ounces of pulverized fire-roasted or San Marzano tomatoes.
- 1 teaspoonful unrefined olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered oregano
- Just a half teaspoon of kosher salt
For Flavor
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup marinara for pizza
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese shredded or 2 to 3 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese
- As a garnish, Parmesan cheese
- a garnish of fresh basil fronds
Equipment
With a few tools and hints, it’s simple to create margherita pizza! It must be baked at a very high temperature to achieve an authentic Italian pastry with a crisp exterior. The key? A pizza stone that is red-hot. Here are the utensils you’ll need to create an exceptional pie:
- Pizza Stone: The pizza stone is responsible for the crust’s crisp exterior and squishy interior. Here is the pizza stone that we recommend, as well as some care instructions.
- Pizza Peel: With a pizza peel, you can move a pie from the cutting board to the hot stone in the oven. This pizza peel or this pizza peel with a moving belt are both good choices. The conveyor belt makes it very easy to slide onto the stone. It was a good purchase.
- Pizza oven (optional): If you really want to up your game, you’ll need a pizza oven that can reach temperatures much higher than your standard oven. This is the Ooni pizza oven we use. It’s not too expensive and can get as hot as 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. in a hurry.
How Do You Make A Margarita Pizza?
Instruction
Here are the step by step instruction to make margarita pizza.
1. Prepare pizza crust
- Excellent margherita pizza requires a superior crust. Over the past decade, we at A Couple Cooks have been developing our formulation. Our dough recipe integrates advice from some of the best pizza chefs in the United States, who have studied pizza in Naples.
- Employ a fantastic pizza dough recipe! This Pizza Dough Master Recipe is the finest way to make artisan-style pizza dough that is light and airy. You may use a stand mixer or knead the dough by hand. You can also try Easy Thin Crust Pizza, which is similar but rolled out with a rolling pin.
2. Prepare Pizza Dough
Purchasing Pizza Dough
- You have the option of purchasing pizza dough, which is more convenient, or creating your own from scratch. You can customize the thickness and texture of homemade dough to your preference, making it a rewarding option.
- If preparing your own dough, use a standard pizza dough recipe consisting of flour, water, yeast, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. The dough needs to double in size. Once it does, deflate it and roll it into a cylinder shape.
Mix The Dough
- Roll out the pizza dough to the desired thickness on a gently floured surface.
- The crust thickness of a Margherita pizza can be adjusted according to personal preference.
- You may form it into a round pizza, a rectangular pizza, or any other shape you desire.
Preheat Oven
- Preparing the Baking Surface Preheat your oven to its maximum temperature setting, typically around 500°F (260°C).
- If you have a pizza stone or pizza steel, place it in the preheating oven.
- A baking sheet will suffice if necessary.
- To prevent the dough from adhering, sprinkle cornmeal or flour on the pizza peel or inverted baking sheet.
3. Toppings For The Pizza
Tomato Sauce
- Use ripe tomatoes for the best flavor, preferable San Marzano or Roma varieties. Place them in a receptacle with finely diced pieces.
- Add between one and two minced garlic cloves to the diced tomatoes.
- Add a sprinkle of salt for flavor to the tomato mixture.
Basilic Herb
- A vital component of a Margherita pizza is fresh basil leaves.
- If the leaves are small enough, they may be ripped into smaller fragments or left intact.
- Their aromatic freshness enhances the flavor of the other garnishes.
Natural Mozzarella
- Choose fresh mozzarella, preferably buffalo mozzarella, for a truly authentic Margherita pizza.
- Thinly shave the cheese with a knife.
- Its mild, creamy flavor contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the tomato sauce and the fragrant basil.
The Use Of
- A little salt, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if you want, should be added to the pizza to make it taste good.
- The black pepper gives it a little heat, and the salt blends well with the other tastes.
4. Baking And Assemblage
Put The Pizza Together
- Place the pizza dough on the prepared pizza peel or inverted baking sheet.
- The pizza crust should be brushed with olive oil. This gives it a deliciously rich flavor and keeps the tomato sauce from making the bread too soft.
- Cover the pizza dough with the tomato and garlic mixture, making sure to leave an edge for the crust.
- On top of the tomato mixture, equitably distribute the fresh mozzarella cheese slices.
- Distribute the fresh basil leaves over the cheese and enable their aroma to permeate the pizza.
Cook The Pizza
- Transfer the pizza to an oven that has been preheated with care. If you are using a pizza stone or steel, you can place the pizza onto it directly.
- For about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is bubbling and just barely browned.
Drizzled With Olive Oil
- The pizza should be drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil once it has been removed from the oven.
- This phase improves the flavor and imparts a beautiful sheen to the pizza.
Serving And Slicing
- After letting the pizza cool for a minute or two, use a pizza cutter to cut it into wedges or squares.
- Be careful not to get burned. Serve it while it’s still hot and fresh.
Tips
- Fresh, high-quality ingredients are the distinguishing characteristic of a Margherita pizza. Choose the highest-quality tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil you can locate for the most authentic and delectable flavor.
- Ensure Your Oven Is thoroughly preheated ensure your oven is thoroughly preheated to its utmost temperature. The crisp, slightly charred crust and flawlessly melted cheese are made possible by a heated oven.
- Dusting your pizza peel or inverted baking sheet with cornmeal or flour prevents the dough from sticking and makes it simpler to slide it into the oven.
- To ensure consistent baking, roll out your pizza dough evenly. If you prefer a thinner crust, roll it out as thinly as possible without making it too thin to support the garnishes.
- Thin Crust Margherita pizza has a thin crust by tradition. The thinner the crust, the more quickly it will cook, so keep a watch on it to prevent it from burning.
- Avoid smothering the pizza in sauce. A thin layer of tomato sauce maintains the crispiness of the crust.
- After the pizza has been removed from the oven, sprinkle on the fresh basil leaves. This maintains their vibrant hue and flavorful freshness.
- If your fresh mozzarella is especially moist, blot it delicately with a paper towel to remove excess moisture before placing it on the pizza. This prevents an overly moist crust.
- Drizzle high-quality extra-virgin olive oil over the pizza after it has been prepared to improve the overall flavor and add a beautiful sheen.
- Even though a classic Margherita pizza tastes great, don’t be afraid to try using different toppings. You can make your pizza exactly how you like it by adding things like ham, arugula, balsamic marinade, and more.
- Consider purchasing a pizza stone or steel if you frequently prepare pizza. These instruments aid in obtaining a crispier crust and shorter cooking times.
- First let the pizza cool down for one or two minutes. Then cut it into slices. By letting it set a little, this makes it easier to cut and serve the cheese. After that, for the best experience, serve your Margherita pizza while it is still hot.
When prepared with care and attention to detail, Margherita pizza is a straightforward dish that is immensely satisfying. It is a crowd-pleaser and an excellent example of how high-quality ingredients can flourish in a straightforward recipe. Have fun with your homemade Margherita pizza!
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