Margherita Pizzas

(from castro15’s recipe box)

Categories: Pizza/flatbread

Ingredients

  • 6 tbsp olive oil, divided, plus more for brushing
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 14.5 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves, plus more for topping
  • pinch salt
  • Pizza Crusts (see recipe)
  • 6 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2/3 lb. fresh mozzarella, sliced 1/2-inch thick
  • 1 tsp dried oregano

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450. Place a pizza stone or large round baking sheet on lowest rack of oven and heat for 25 minutes.

  2. In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat. Add garlic; swirl in hot oil until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir in crushed tomatoes, and cook, uncovered, until thickened, about 25 minutes.

  3. In the work bowl of a food processor, pulse together 1 cup basil leaves and remaining 4 tbsp oil until finely chopped, stopping to scrape bowl. Reserve 3 tbsp basil oil in a small bowl, and cover surface with a thin layer of olive oil. Stir remaining basil oil and salt into tomato sauce.

  4. Spoon 1/4 cup tomato sauce onto 1 Pizza Crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Brush border of dough with olive oil. Plant tip of pizza peel of side of baking sheet on preheated pizza stone or baking sheet, and quickly transfer crust.

  5. Bake until crust is dry but not browned, 3-6 minutes. Remove from oven, and top with half each of tomatoes, mozzarella, and oregano. Bake until crust is golden brown and firm, 2-5 minutes more. Transfer pizza to a cutting board; drizzle with half of reserved basil oil, and top with fresh basil. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Repeat with remaining tomato sauce, Pizza Crust, mozzarella, tomatoes, oregano, basil oil and fresh basil.

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