Introduction
Pizza is one of the most popular dishes in the world, and the Margherita is a classic choice. This recipe is for a traditional Margherita, with a tomato sauce base and mozzarella cheese. You can of course add other toppings if you like, but sometimes it’s best to keep it simple. Read on for the ingredients and method.
Ingredients
– 1 quantity pizza dough
– 1 x 400g can of plum tomatoes
– 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 250g mozzarella cheese, sliced
– A handful of fresh basil leaves
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7.
2. In a food processor, whizz the tomatoes with the garlic and olive oil until you have a smooth sauce.
3. Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and transfer to a baking sheet.
4. Spread over the tomato sauce, leaving a 1cm border around the edge.
5. Scatter over the mozzarella and basil leaves.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the dough is cooked and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Potential changes & improvements
– If you’re not a fan of basil, you could try oregano or thyme instead.
– For a bit of a kick, you could add some chili flakes to the tomato sauce.
– If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try making your own pizza dough.
What other food it works well with
Pizza is traditionally served with a side salad, but feel free to get creative. A classic Italian combo is pizza and garlic bread, or you could try it with fries or wedges.
Common Mistakes
– Overcrowding the pizza with toppings will make it difficult to cook evenly, so stick to a maximum of 3 or 4 toppings.
– Using a ready-made pizza sauce can make your pizza taste a bit bland, so it’s worth taking the time to make your own.
– Not preheating the oven properly will result in a dough that’s not cooked through.
Nutritional Information
– Calories: 586
– Fat: 19.4g
– Saturated Fat: 7.4g
– Carbohydrates: 76.4g
– Sugar: 10.1g
– Fiber: 3.4g
– Protein: 20.1g
– Salt: 2.1g
Allergens
– Wheat
– Dairy