History of Pizza Margherita
Pizza Margherita is a classic Neapolitan pizza that is said to have been created in 1889 by Raffaele Esposito, a baker at Pizzeria Brandi in Naples, Italy. He was asked to create a pizza for Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was visiting the city. Esposito created a pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, which represented the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green. The Queen loved the pizza, and it was named after her.
Pizza Margherita is one of the most popular types of pizza in the world. It is simple to make and uses fresh, high-quality ingredients. The pizza is typically made with a thin crust that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The tomatoes are San Marzano tomatoes, which are grown in the volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius. The mozzarella cheese is fresh mozzarella, which is made from cow’s milk. The basil is fresh basil, which is grown in Italy.
Recipe for Pizza Margherita
Ingredients:
- 1 pound pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C).
- Roll out pizza dough into a 12-inch circle.
- Spread tomato sauce over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Top with mozzarella cheese slices.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and top with fresh basil leaves.
- Slice and serve immediately.
Tips:
- For a crispier crust, bake the pizza on a preheated pizza stone.
- If you don’t have fresh mozzarella cheese, you can use shredded mozzarella cheese.
- You can add other toppings to your pizza, such as vegetables, meat, or spices.
Enjoy!
