Pizza Margherita

How to make margherita pizza?

Pizza Margherita is the most famous pizza all around the world which is a very basic pizza with pizza sauce and cheese without any toppings. This is a very easy pizza recipe which you can prepare at home with very less ingredients. The result of this margherita pizza is just like sourdough pizza or wood oven pizza. In this recipe I have prepared pizza dough recipe as well and pizza sauce is also prepared at home.

As a kid I always used to wonder how to make pizza? I try every new pizza recipe whenever I can to learn and discover something new. I can’t call myself pro at pizza baking but I have kind of achieved the moderate level in making pizza.

How to make Margherita Pizza Recipe?

For making pizza dough all you need is lukewarm water, yeast, sugar, salt and flour. The water should be lukewarm, not hot or cold. Very hot water can kill the yeast and cold water will not activate the yeast at all. In this recipe I have used active dry yeast which is very easily available in the market and is a good option to prove the dough. I generally use all purpose flour rather than whole wheat flour as the plain flour has more gluten and it gives better result. You can mix all purpose flour and whole wheat flour as well if you like. In this margherita pizza recipe I have made pizza sauce recipe also but you can also use store bought pizza sauce.

How much time for proving the dough?

You can make pizza in just 1 hour as well but overnight proving gives the best result. So to make pizza dough I rest my dough two times – one will be for one hour and the second is overnight in refrigerator. This overnight proving gives the result similar to sour dough. If you like you can just let it rest for 2 hours.

Shelf life of the dough

Once prepared the dough can be kept in refrigerator upto 4-5 days. Just take the dough out 30 minutes before you want to prepare the pizza. Always keep in mind, more the proving better the result.

I have also prepared few more recipes like sandwich bread, cinnamon rolls and Dinner rolls, Check them out too.

Printable Recipe for Pizza margherita

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Detailed step by step recipe with photos

1. Take lukewarm water in a bowl. Add sugar and active dry yeast to it. Mix it well.
2. Leave it for 10 minutes or until it becomes foamy on top.
   
   
3. Now take flour in a glass bowl. Add yeast mixture and salt to it. Mix it well.
4. Transfer it to the working bench and add flour to it.
5. Knead it for 10 minutes. Add more flour if required. Prepare a soft dough.
6. Fold and tuck the dough to make the top smooth.
7. Transfer it to a greased bowl. Cover it with cling wrap.
   
8. Let it rest for 1 hour or until doubles in size.
9. Take it out after 1 hour. Fold and tuck the dough again. Cover it with a cling wrap.
10. Keep it in refrigerator overnight or 8 hours.
11. Remove it from the bowl and divide it into 2 portions.
    
    
12. Take flour and place one portion on it. Use your fingers to stretch it.
    
    
    
13. Now lift it up and use your knuckles carefully to stretch it until it is thin in the centre.
14. Transfer it gently to a floured wooden board.
15. Meanwhile preheat the oven at 230°C/446°F.
16. Apply pizza sauce on the pizza base. Spread it all over the pizza.
    
17. Add grated mozzarella cheese to it.
18. Transfer it to the pizza tray or pizza stone carefully.
19. Bake it for 8-10 minutes @ 230°C/446°F.
    
    
20. Take it out and cut it into desired size using a pizza cutter.
21. Margherita pizza is ready.