Italian cuisine is one of the oldest-known cuisines in the world. It is also one of the simplest cuisines in terms of the number of ingredients used in a dish. Italian cuisine primarily focuses on the quality of the ingredients rather than on extensive preparations. Few of the most common and popular ingredients used in Italian cuisine are tomatoes, maize, potatoes, olive oil, various types of meats, fishes, herbs, cheese, etc., while coffee and wine are usually served along with meals. Some of the well-known dishes from this part of the world include varieties of pizzas and pastas (known with different names based on the shape they come in), pesto (a typical Italian sauce used for seasoning), polenta, tiramisu, risotto, etc. Most of these preparations have origins from various regions of Italy; however, they are easily available throughout the country and have also been internationalized to a large extent.
For today’s recipe, I have picked one of the most loved dishes in the world – Pizza. Pizza originated in Neapolitan cuisine in the Campania region of Italy. It is usually prepared as an oven-baked flat bread that is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a variety of other fresh ingredients, which can be veg, non-veg, or both. However, Pizza Margherita is still the standard variety and all the Italian restaurants I’ve been to definitely serve it. You can easily make Pizza Margherita at home, with very simple ingredients. You can buy pizza sauce from any supermarket, which is an easier and simpler option, or make it using tomatoes at home. Enjoy this wonderful dish with your family and friends. Here is the Pizza Margherita Recipe for you.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
Dough
- Warm Water – 1 cup
- Yeast – 1/4 tsp
- Sugar – 1 tsp
- All-Purpose Flour – 3 cups
- Salt – 1/2 tsp
- Olive Oil – 1/4 cup
Toppings
- Pizza Sauce – 1/2 cup
- Mozzarella Cheese – 400 gm
- Basil leaves for garnishing
How to Make Pizza Margherita
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Mix yeast and sugar in warm water and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
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In a separate bowl, mix all-purpose flour with salt and then, add the yeast mixture and olive oil to it, and knead dough for about 10 minutes until soft.
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Cover the dough and keep it aside for about two hours until it doubles in size.
- Preheat the oven to 200° C (400° F).
- Divide the dough in small balls (tennis ball-sized pieces).
- Roll it out thinly into a disc using dry flour.
- Transfer the disc onto the baking tray.
- Spread about 2 tbsp pizza sauce evenly.
- Spread about 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese evenly.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until the crust is slightly brown and the cheese has melted.
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Garnish with basil leaves and serve hot.