A Neapolitan classic: Pizza Margherita. Rustic, authentic and simply delicious. Serve with a sprinkling of oregano or fresh basil for a delicious and traditional Italian dinner.
Tasting this delicious recipe transported me back to Italy and eating pizza Margherita in the middle of the Piazza del Campo is Siena.
Over the weekend is we always enjoy a pizza night in our house. It’s become a tradition over the years and I love getting into the kitchen and making homemade pizza with my family. Once it’s baking in the oven and you can smell all those amazing aromas, you know your weekend is off to a delicious start.
The mix of flavours are simple and taste wonderful. My earliest memories are of my mum making homemade pizza for me and my friends for dinner. Everyone couldn’t believe we had made it all from scratch and so I’ve been making homemade pizza for as long as I can remember. This is just the very basic Margherita pizza, however you can top it with any extra ingredients that take your fancy.
Forget buying pre-made pizza and try my easy homemade pizza recipe. You’ll have so much fun creating your own unique pizza!
(Makes 2 x 25cm pizzas)
Ingredients:
Pizza Dough –
500g strong white bread flour or tipo ’00 flour, plus extra for dusting
7g fast-action dried yeast
1 teaspoon fine salt
2 teaspoons sugar
250ml warm water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing
Toppings –
300-400g passata (sieved Italian tomatoes)
Fresh basil leaves, for sauce and serving (optional)
Dried oregano
250g dried mozzarella (also known as pizza mozzarella) or 2 balls of buffalo mozzarella, drained and then torn
Method:
1. To prepare the pizza dough: Put the flour, yeast and salt into a large mixing bowl. Make a small well in the centre and add the water and oil and mix into a wet dough. Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knead by hand for 5 minutes. Once kneaded and elasticated place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover it and leave to rise somewhere warm for 25 minutes or until doubled in size.
2. Preheat your oven to 200°C / 180°C Fan / 400°F / Gas Mark 6. Lightly oil two large baking trays with approx. 1 tablespoon of olive oil on each tray. Once the dough has rested, take it out the bowl and divide into two equal halves. Using your hands or a rolling pin press the dough out to form a circle shape – about 25cm in diameter. Place the pizza bases on the oiled baking trays.
3. Mix together the passata, tear in a small handful of fresh basil leaves (optional) and season well with salt and pepper. Now spread the passata mixture evenly on top of each pizza. Sprinkle with a little oregano or your favourite dried herbs. Divide the mozzarella between the two pizzas and top with the tomatoes (if using). Cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until crispy and all the cheese is gooey and melted. Serve hot and garnish with basil leaves and drizzle with a little extra olive oil to finish.
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Love homemade pizza! Yours looks yummy!
Thanks so much! 😀
This looks really good!!
Thanks Jhuls! 😀
I love pizza, especially when it’s homemade. This looks so delicious and you can’t beat a margherita pizza! Pinned 🙂
Thanks Danielle! Nothing compares to homemade pizza! Also, thanks so much for pinning, have a lovely weekend! 😀
have been looking for a good pizza crust recipe, I am pinning this one down 🙂
Thanks Renee! This recipe is brilliant, trusty and makes a perfect crisp crust every time! I hope you enjoy! 😀
Jess! This post totally takes me back to Italy. Friday nights are pizza nights in our house, too…and I’m loving the classic margherita pizzas you’ve got going on here. Save me a slice?? 🙂
Thanks so much David! 😀 I saw your pizza recipe – it looks fantastic! Have a great weekend!
This pizza is perfect for a friday evening ! Looks divine ! I didn’t know what to cook for supper,now I know it ! Thanks Jess 🙂
Merci beaucoup Eva! Bon weekend! xx 😀
This pizza seriously looks unbelievable!!!
Thanks so much Jocelyn! It tasted really great and went down a treat! 😀
Margherita pizzas are my favorite! This one looks gorgeous, Jess! So perfect for Friday nights. Love it!
Thanks so much Gayle! Margherita is definitely one of the best pizzas – simple, but always delicious. Glad you like the recipe! Have a lovely weekend! 😀
There is nothing quite like a classic margherita pizza – especially a homemade one! 🙂
Thanks Eva – you’re so right! Classic Margherita pizza is always delicious!
Yum! My favorite kind! I love some good Margherita pizza!
Thanks Olivia! 😀
I love margherita pizzas, they are my favorite! Yours looks incredible and perfect for Friday! Wish I had a few slices right now!
Thanks Kelly! 😀
This looks delicious and makes me want to go make and eat it right now!! How can you not love pizza?? Love your Friday pizza tradition 🙂
Thanks Jenna! 😀
This is my favorite pizza right here — I love a classic Margherita! Pinned.
Thanks Marcie! 😀
This pizza looks very delicious, Jess! I can have a big slice right now 🙂 Perfect for Friday!
Thanks so much Savita! 😀
I literally got so hungry the second I started reading your post. Is there anything better than Margherita pizza?? Nope. Love it. Yours looks so yummy!
Hehe – I’m glad you like it! Nothing beats a homemade Margherita pizza – so good! 😀
That’s one good looking pizza – I’d like a slice right now! I love how the cheese is a bit browned, Jess!
Yum! I love margherita pizza and that’s a stunning one 🙂
Thanks so much! 😀
This pizza looks gorgeous Jess! And I need to make some very soon, we love pizza in our house 🙂
Thanks so much Mira! 😀
I bake my own pizza at least once a week, it’s my favorite comfort food. Sometimes I use whole wheat flour and opt for healthy toppings but I know nothing beats the yumminess of its most classic version, the Margherita!
Thanks Daniela! I love the idea of using whole wheat flour – definitely going to give that a try next! I love pizza vendura! 😀
Jess, I love this pizza!!!! A Classic Margherita Pizza is probably my FAVE! Pinned and trying this pizza dough recipe!
Thanks Alice! 😀
Having a weekly pizza night just makes life so much happier! Love this classic.
Thanks Joanne! 😀
o0o0o delicious – my favourite type of pizza. Now my belly is rumbling. Lovely recipe x
Thanks Rebecca! x
I can’t even handle that picture! ‘Thatsa’ perfect pizza pie, my friend!!
Thanks so much Annie – that really means the world to me! x
I want pizza night on Friday night too! Sounds like the best tradition ever 🙂 Looks so delicious!
Thanks so much Josefine! 😀 x
I really can’t even stand how perfect this pizza looks, Jess! Margherita-anything is one of my favorites! I so need to try this asap. 🙂
Thanks so much Sarah! 😀 I hope you enjoy!
Such a lovely crust! What could be better than a homebaked pizza with all its gooey toppings? Well done!
Homemade pizza is definitely the best!
Fridays are our homemade pizza night too! I don’t eat much dairy anymore, but I cannot live without pizza…luckily I can control the cheese when it’s homemade 🙂 Looks delicious!
Thanks Caitlin! Friday pizza nights are the best – definitely my favourite night of the week! 😀 Glad you like this – homemade pizza is my favourite!
How pretty! Sometimes I think simple pizzas like this are best.
Thanks Amanda!