Pizza Margherita Recipe: An Italian Classic Done Right

Pizza Margherita is a beloved Italian classic that has been served around the world since its creation in 1889. With an illustrious history and delightful taste, this pizza recipe is one of Italy’s best-known dishes.

Not only does it feature iconic Italian flavors like tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, but it also carries with it a fascinating history!

Here, we’ll explore not just the recipe but also its unique place in Italian culinary history.

What exactly is Pizza Margherita?

Pizza Margherita is a Neapolitan-style pizza made from fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil. Other popular versions of this dish can include salt, extra virgin olive oil, and even garlic. The colors of the ingredients are meant to resemble the Italian flag (red, white, and green).

This style of pizza has a rich history and is fairly easy to make. Keep reading to learn more about this classic Italian dish.

Pizza Margherita showing off it’s iconic red, white, and green colors.

A classic is born: The history of Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita is one of the most iconic dishes in Italian cuisine, and its history dates back to 1889, in Naples. Legend has it that the pizza was created by Raffaele Esposito, a Neapolitan pizzaiolo who was commissioned by Queen Margherita of Savoy to create a dish that would embody the colors of the Italian flag.

The result was a pizza topped with fresh red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil leaves.

Esposito named his creation after Queen Margherita herself, and it quickly became popular among locals and visitors alike.

Pizza Margherita also played an important role in Italy’s unification as a nation, as it was one of the few foods that all Italians could agree on.

During this time period, regional identities were very strong throughout Italy, but food was something that everyone could agree on.

While the original Pizza Margherita is still served today, it has evolved a bit over time. Esposito’s pizza had Italian sweet basil leaves, but the variety of basil used in Italy has since changed (to Genovese) and most pizzerias use that type instead.

Other changes include the addition of olive oil to the finished product and using tomato sauce instead of fresh tomato slices.

Traditional Pizza Margherita Recipe

Video by Fontana Forni USA

Ingredients

The ingredients used in making Pizza Margherita are few but essential. Starting with the dough, it’s usually made from flour, yeast, salt, and water. You can visit our Perfect Pizza Dough Recipe if you want to make your own, or you can use store-bought pizza dough.

• 1 12-inch round pizza dough stretched.
• 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce (or more if you like your pizza saucy).
• Extra virgin olive oil.
• 2 to 3 ounces of fresh mozzarella cheese.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 4 to 5 basil leaves roughly torn.

You’ll also need a pizza stone or steel, and a pizza oven, toaster oven, or regular convection oven big enough to cook your 12-inch Pizza Margherita.

Step 1

Place your pizza stone or pizza steel in the middle of the oven and set it to 450 degrees (Fahrenheit). Let the pizza stone or pizza steal sit in the oven for about an hour.

Step 2

While the pizza stone or pizza steel is getting hot, spread the tomato sauce evenly over the stretched pizza dough with a spoon. Leave approximately 1 inch to half an inch of dough without sauce to create the pizza edge.

Step 3

Roughly rip the cheese into smaller pieces and place them over the tomato sauce. Drizzle some of the olive oil, and scatter the basil leaves over the top of your pizza.

Step 4

Using a pizza peel for convenience, pick up and slide your pizza on top of the heated pizza stone or pizza steel. Bake the pizza for 4 to 8 minutes, or until the pizza dough is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

Eat up, and enjoy!

Pizza Margherita is an Italian classic that has been part of the country’s food culture for over a century. Its combination of simple, fresh ingredients and its delicious flavor make it a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine.

Give this classic recipe a try and you will be sure to impress your friends and family with your cooking skills. Finally, don’t forget to take a moment and appreciate the rich history behind this iconic dish.