Best Queen Margherita Pizza Recipes

QUEEN MARGHERITA PIZZA

Steps:

• Make pizza dough according to directions up until the point where the dough is proofed and is ready to be cooked.
• If your mozzarella cheese is very fresh, slice up and set on paper towels first for any whey to absorb then proceed with recipe.
• Peel the tomatoes by plunging into boiling water for about 15 seconds. Remove peel, cut into thin slices, remove seeds and drain in a colander.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly oil a round pizza tray* with olive oil. Roll out the pizza dough into a thin, supple sheet and place in the prepared pizza pan. Brush the surface of the dough with olive oil, cover with thin slices of Mozzarella. Scatter on half of the tomato slices, then the Parmesan. Arrange the remaining tomato slices on top.
• *NOTE: a heavier pizza tray is preferable for best baking results.
• Lightly salt the tomatoes, then drizzle a little bit of olive oil all over the top.
• Bake 15-20 minutes. It may be necessary to turn pizza pan around at the half way mark for even browning.
• Garnish the fresh basil ribbons on top of the pizza just before serving.

PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine the oil, sugar, salt and 1 cup flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down; divide in half. Roll each portion into a 13-in. circle. Transfer to two greased 14-in. pizza pans; build up edges slightly. Cover with a clean kitchen towel; let rest for 10 minutes., Spoon tomatoes over dough. Top with basil, oregano, cheese, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil. Bake at 450° for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

JIM LAHEY'S NO-KNEAD PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• To make dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour, yeast, and salt. Add water and stir until blended (the dough will be very sticky). Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 12 to 24 hours in a warm spot, about 70 degrees.
• Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and sprinkle the top with flour. Fold the dough over on itself once or twice, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Shape the dough into 3 or 4 balls, depending on how thick you want the crust. Generously sprinkle a clean cotton towel with flour and cover the dough with it. Let the dough rise for 2 hours.
• To make sauce: Blanch tomato for 5 seconds in boiling water and quickly remove. Allow to cool to the touch. Peel the skin with your hands and quarter the tomato. Remove the jelly and seeds, and reserve in a strainer or fine sieve. Strain the jelly to remove seeds, and combine resulting liquid in a bowl with the flesh of the tomatoes. Proceed to crush the tomatoes with your hands. Add salt and olive oil and stir.
• To make pizza: Place pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat on high broil. Stretch or toss the dough into a disk approximately 10 inches in diameter. Pull rack out of oven and place the dough on top of the preheated pizza stone. Drizzle 5 generous tablespoons of sauce over the dough, and spread evenly. Try to keep the sauce about ½ inch away from the perimeter of the dough. Break apart or slice the buffalo mozzarella and arrange over the dough. Return rack and pizza stone to the middle of the oven and broil for approximately 6 minutes. Remove and top with basil, olive oil, and salt.