How to Make a Margherita Pizza (VIDEO)

The Margherita pizza bears the colors of Italy’s flag: red tomato sauce, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil.

Step 1: Preheat oven
Preheat the oven to 500˚ F.

Step 2: Oil the pan
Oil the pizza pan with 1 oz. of olive oil; save the other ounce for later.

Step 3: Place the dough
Place the pizza dough on the center of the pan and prod, push, and stretch it with your fingers and the heels of your hands into a 14′ circle about a 1⁄4′ thick.

Tip
If you don’t have time to make the dough, you can buy it from your local pizzeria.

Step 4: Spread the sauce
Ladle the tomato sauce onto the center of the dough, and spread it evenly outward in circular motions with the back of the spoon or ladle. Be sure to leave a 1⁄2′ border of dough uncovered at the edges.

Step 5: Place the mozzarella
Place the mozzarella slices on top of the sauce.

Step 6: Put the pizza in oven
Place the pizza pan in the oven on a middle shelf.

Step 7: Bake
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, turning the pan about midway through, until the crust is golden brown and crisp on the edges and the bottom.

Step 8: Remove the pizza
Remove the pizza pan from the oven and place on a flat, heat-resistance surface, like a large cutting board.

Step 9: Sprinkle basil
Sprinkle the basil over the pizza, then drizzle on the remaining olive oil.

Step 10: Slice and serve
Slice into even pieces using a pizza cutter, and serve.

Did You Know?
The Margherita pizza was created in Naples in honor of an 1889 visit by King Umberto I and Queen Margherita Teresa.