Easy Margherita Pizza with Homemade Pizza Dough

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This Margherita pizza features homemade dough, rich tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Perfect for any pizza night, follow this easy guide to create a classic Italian favourite at home.

Margherita pizza with basil and mozzarella on a marble table.

You can easily batch-cook the pizza sauce and make a batch of pizza dough to freeze for later.

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⭐️ Why this recipe works
🧾 Ingredients overview
👩🏻‍🍳 Here's how to make it
📖 Variations
💡 Chef's Guide: Expert Tips
🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers
❓Recipe FAQ's
Easy Margherita Pizza with Homemade Pizza Dough

⭐️ Why this recipe works

Fresh Ingredients: Using fresh mozzarella and basil ensures a vibrant flavor and texture.
Homemade Dough: The homemade pizza dough is easy to prepare and yields a perfect, chewy crust.
Rich Sauce: The homemade sauce, simmered with herbs and garlic, adds depth and richness.
Versatile: Can be customised with additional toppings or variations to suit personal preferences.
Quick Cooking: Bakes in just 10-12 minutes, making it a great option for a quick meal.

🧾 Ingredients overview

Ingredients needed for making Margherita pizza

Strong flour: Provides the structure and chewiness for the pizza dough.
Yeast: Helps the dough rise and become light and airy.
Olive oil: Adds richness and helps the dough become tender.
Sea salt: Enhances the flavor of the dough.
Warm water: Activates the yeast and helps combine the ingredients.
Honey: Feeds the yeast and adds a slight sweetness to the dough.
Passata: Forms the base of the pizza sauce, providing a rich tomato flavor.
Tomato puree: Thickens the sauce and intensifies the tomato taste.
Garlic granules: Adds a subtle garlic flavor to the sauce.
Oregano: Gives the sauce a traditional Italian flavor.
Basil: Adds freshness and a hint of sweetness to the sauce.
Fresh mozzarella: Melts beautifully and adds a creamy texture.
Shredded mozzarella: Provides a uniform melt and cheesy flavor.
Basil leaves: Add fresh, aromatic notes to the finished pizza.

For precise measurements and additional ingredients, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

👩🏻‍🍳 Here's how to make it

Margherita Pizza with Homemade Pizza Dough recipe step-by-step

unbaked pizza dough with sauce and sauce and with cheese

Combine Ingredients: Mix flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk warm water, honey, and olive oil.
Form Dough: Pour the liquid mixture into the flour mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Knead Dough: Knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
First Rise: Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes until doubled in size.
Prepare Sauce: Simmer passata, tomato puree, garlic, oregano, basil, olive oil, and honey in a saucepan for 10 minutes.
Cool Sauce: Let the sauce cool completely before using.
Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 250ºC and heat a baking tray inside.
Roll Dough: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼ cm thick and place on baking paper.
Assemble Pizza: Spread the cooled sauce over the dough and top with shredded mozzarella.
Add Fresh Mozzarella: Tear the fresh mozzarella ball and distribute evenly over the pizza.

Margherita pizza before and after baking.

Add Basil: Place basil leaves on top of the cheese.
Bake Pizza: Transfer the pizza to the hot baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden and bubbling.

📖 Variations

Cheese: Substitute fresh mozzarella with fontina for a different flavour.
Gluten-Free: Substitute with gluten-free flour for a gluten-free crust.
Vegan: Use vegan cheese substitutes and agave instead of honey.

💡 Chef's Guide: Expert Tips

Drawing on a decade of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and Cordon Bleu training, I have compiled my top tips for recipe success.

Cold Fermentation: For a deeper flavour, let the dough rise in the fridge for 24-48 hours. This slow fermentation enhances the taste.
Preheat the Baking Tray: A hot baking tray ensures a crispy crust. For an even crispier base, use a preheated pizza stone.
Flavoured Crust: Brush the crust with a mixture of olive oil, garlic, and herbs before baking for added flavour.

🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers

Fridge: Store the cooled pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: For longer storage, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat: To reheat, place slices on a baking sheet and warm in a 175ºC oven for 10-15 minutes until heated through.

❓Recipe FAQ's

What are some good alternative toppings?

Consider adding ingredients like prosciutto, arugula, mushrooms, or artichoke hearts for a different twist.

How can I prevent the cheese from burning?

If your cheese tends to burn before the crust is fully cooked, you can cover the pizza with aluminum foil during the last few minutes of baking.

How do I avoid a dry crust?

Ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature, and avoid overbaking. Brushing the crust with olive oil before baking can also help keep it moist.

Looking for other Italian-inspired recipes like this? Try these:

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