For Home Pizza Makers: A Perfect Margherita Recipe

For those craving homemade pizza, the classic Margherita offers a delightful combination of a thin crust, rich tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil.

To create this Italian favorite, you will need ingredients for the dough: 3 cups of flour, 1 cup of lukewarm water, 1 packet (10 grams) of instant yeast, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

The sauce requires 2 tablespoons of tomato puree or grated tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of oregano, salt, and pepper. For the topping, prepare 200 grams of mozzarella cheese and a few fresh basil leaves, plus an extra tablespoon of olive oil for drizzling.

To begin, activate the yeast by mixing it with sugar in lukewarm water and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl, then add the yeast mixture and olive oil to form a soft dough. Cover the dough and let it rise for about an hour.

While the dough rises, prepare the sauce by mixing the tomato puree, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings. Once the dough has risen, roll it out thinly on a floured surface and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the tomato sauce evenly, arrange the mozzarella slices on top, and bake in a preheated oven at 230 degrees Celsius (450°F) for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil before serving.