Homemade Margherita Pizza

  Homemade Margherita Pizza

Homemade Margherita Pizza

Ingredients:

1 pound (450g) pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)

1/2 cup pizza sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Fresh basil leaves

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional toppings: sliced tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella

Instructions:

Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to the highest temperature it can reach (usually around 500°F or 260°C). If you have a pizza stone or baking steel, place it in the oven to preheat as well.

Prepare the Dough:

Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness. You can shape it into a round, rectangle, or any shape you like.

Assemble the Pizza:

Place the rolled-out dough onto a pizza peel or an inverted baking sheet dusted with cornmeal or flour to prevent sticking. If you don't have a peel, you can assemble the pizza directly on parchment paper.

Add Sauce and Cheese:

Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a border around the edges for the crust. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce.

Add Toppings:

If you're adding sliced tomatoes or fresh mozzarella, arrange them over the cheese. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Baking:

Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking steel in the oven. If you're using parchment paper, place the parchment directly on the oven rack. Bake the pizza for about 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

Finishing Touches:

Once the pizza is out of the oven, drizzle it with a little olive oil and scatter fresh basil leaves on top. This adds a wonderful aroma and freshness to the pizza.

Slice and Serve:

Let the pizza cool for a minute before slicing it into slices. Serve hot and enjoy!

Feel free to customize this recipe with your favorite toppings, such as cooked sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, or any other ingredients you like. Enjoy your delicious homemade pizza!

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