Fun fact about me: I hate tomatoes. I try them every year and each time I do, I walk away slightly disappointed that they are still just as disgusting as the year before. There is one way I will eat tomatoes in a heartbeat though – on a delicious slice of Margherita Pizza.
You would never think a pizza with no marinara sauce could be so good, but trust me – this pizza will change your life!
Margherita Pizza
Servings 2 pizzas
Ingredients
- For the pizza dough:
- 1-1/2 cup hot water as hot as you can run it from the tap, but NOT BOILING or you will kill the yeast
- 1-1/2 tsp. dry active yeast
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 3 cups bread flour or all-purpose can be substituted
- non-stick cooking spray
- olive oil
- For the toppings:
- olive oil
- 4 cloves sliced garlic
- 4 roma tomatoes
- 2 cups grated mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 6 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
-
Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let sit for five minutes until yeast blooms.
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Add the olive oil, sugar, and salt to the yeast and stir.
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In a separate, medium bowl, measure out flour and add yeast mixture to it - stir until well combined. (The dough may appear very gooey, but this is completely normal. Don't add flour because it makes for a much more tender dough.)
-
Spray a separate bowl with cooking spray and place dough in it - cover and set aside in a warm location for one hour. (Warm location suggestions: above the refrigerator, above the cabinets, or on the stove as it preheats.)
-
After dough is done rising, preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Roll out half of the dough onto a flat surface to about 3/4 inch thick. (Use some extra flour if necessary, to keep from sticking)
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Place rolled out dough onto a pizza stone or pizza pan.
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With a pastry brush, spread a thin layer of olive oil over pizza.
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Thinly slice two garlic cloves and spread evenly over pizza.
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THINLY slice 2 tomatoes (the thinner they are, the less soggy your pizza will be) and spread evenly over pizza.
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In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and spread HALF of it over pizza.
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Slice basil into thin strips and spread evenly over pizza.
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Finish it off with the rest of the cheese mixture.
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Cook in oven on the lowest rack for 11-13 minutes. (Make sure to keep a close eye on it during the last couple minutes so the cheese doesn't burn.)
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Repeat for other half of dough.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe is for 2 pizzas. If you don’t feel up to making two, (which I highly suggest you do, because they’re that good and you’re going to want leftovers) then just half it.
Time to enjoy a taste of traditional Italy. I hope you enjoy this little slice of heaven!
-Sarah
Linking up here: Chef in Training, Naptime Creations, Ladybug Blessings, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Vintage Wanna Bee, Blessed With Grace, Tip Junkie, Blackberry Vine, Mandy’s Recipe Box, Today’s Creative Blog, Off the Grid at -30, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Couponing and Cooking, Baked in the South
This looks amazing, and my husband is the same way with tomatoes. I will have to try this out and see if he will enjoy it. I know I will! Megan
That looks amazing! We have been loving pizzas on the grill this summer so we will have to try this one out.
I would love for you to share this at Mealtime Monday!
Kaylee
http://www.couponingncooking.com
WOW!!! I adore tomatoes…do you like tomato sauce? The pizza looks great! Thanks for sharing the recipe…I just made pizza last night. Hope you can come visit my illuminated photo door 🙂
~ Julie
redheadcandecorate.com
Mmm! Thanks for sharing. I love making homemade pizza! I’m not a fan of tomatoes either, but like you, I can eat them on pizzas and a handful of other ways. I don’t know how people just eat them like candy!
Love & Whimsy
This looks so yummy! I think the last time I had Margherita Pizza was on our cruise! Now I might have to try it at home!
I found your blog on Dawn’s blog. I love it!
If you ever want to do a blog swap let me know! 🙂
Lovelylittlesnippets.blogspot.com
yummo! Would love to have you link up to our party!
http://baked-inthesouth.blogspot.com/2012/07/made-it-by-monday-link-party_31.html
Thanks for visiting my blog! Love this pizza…my husband isn’t a big tomato fan so I know he will love this..Thx for sharing and look forward to following your blog!
Your pizza sounds fabulous! Sometimes less is more and I definitely think that is the case with Margherita pizza!! 🙂
Just pinned it. I was just thinking about finding a good pizza recipe for this week. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be making this soon. 🙂
Great post. I found you via the Tuesday Talent Show from Chef in Training
I have linked a pizza I did with leftover roast chicken. Have a good week.
PS Now following via GFC
I have a deep-seeded tomato hatred myself. As a kid I would eat spaghetti plain because I hated marinara sauce. This pizza looks wonderful and coming from a fellow tomato-hater, it must just be that good.
ps thanks for the follow! your blog was too cute not to follow back 🙂
We are pizza fanatics at our house! Never tried pizza sans the sauce – my family would probably think I lost my mind for sure :o) Pinning this to add to our list to try! Thank you for sharing at All my Bloggy Friends this week!
This looks amazing! Pinning it for later use. Can’t wait to try it!
Tomatoes are probably me favorite thing about summer! I know I would dig this pizza. One of my brothers eats ketchup and marinara, but will not touch a tomato that isn’t pureed.
Awww.. we are totally the same.. I always want to like tomatoes, but just can’t. Blah. I just posted my pizza picks on FB over the weekend too 🙂