Margherita Pizza

Classic pizza, perfect for summer tomatoes and basil!

Margherita Pizza

Makes 2 personal pizzas

Ingredients:

1/2 pizza dough

1-2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 roma tomatoes, sliced thin, salted, and drained for 15 minutes

4 oz mozzarella (shredded or sliced from mozzarella ball)

4 leaves of basil, sliced into thin strips

Coarse kosher or sea salt

Shredded parmesan cheese, to taste

1. Cut a piece of parchment paper the length of a cookie sheet or get out your pizza stone.  Place the cookie sheet or pizza stone into the oven as you preheat the oven to 500ºF, or as hot as your oven gets.  It is important that the stone or sheet be heated in the very hot oven for 20 minutes before you put the pizza in, so you can get a crispy crust.

2.  Place your shaped dough onto the parchment paper or prepare on a large, well-floured pizza handle.  Using a brush, spread the olive oil in an even layer over the pie.  Arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella as desired.  Add the basil and parmesan.  Sprinkle on salt to taste.  

3.  Slide the pizza, still on the parchment paper, onto the hot cookie sheet in the oven. Bake for 6 to 12 minutes, depending on the oven heat, until nicely browned.  Serve immediately.

The delicious finished product!