Homemade Margherita Pizza Recipe: Fresh And Simple To Make

Whether you are looking for something to uplift your mood or a party delight, nothing can be better than a Margherita pizza. Pizza is something which is loved by people all over the world. If you look for food loved globally, then you will definitely find pizza at the top. Simple, quick to prep, and made with fresh mozzarella, the Margherita pizza is adorned with the colours of the Italian flag with the key ingredients being red tomato sauce, white mozzarella and fresh green basil. 

Origin of Margherita pizza

Margherita is one of the most authentic pizzas hailing from Naples, a city in Italy. It's a humble one, without the glitz and glamour of your exciting toppings, but it hits home. This Margherita pizza has an interesting story of its origin, which dates back to 1861. It was once, when Queen Margherita of Savoy, visited Naples. The Queen was tired of eating French food all the time, as it was the cuisine of choice among the European royalty. the onus was on Raffaele Esposito, a pizza chef of great reputation, to dish out some exciting new dishes for her. The onus to dish something exciting was on Raffaele Esposito, a pizza chef of great reputation. So, he went ahead and made three different pizzas, and according to legend, the third one made its mark on the queen. The first two were Pizza Marinara and Pizza Napoli. The third one seemed to represent the colours of the flag of Italy. The white cheese, the green basil, and the red tomato sauce. This instantly appealed to the tastebuds of the queen, and this is how the Margherita pizza came into being.

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Best wine pairing with Margherita pizza

There is a popular phrase, 'What grows together goes together',  which means that you don’t need to look any further than regional wines like Chianti to pair perfectly with your pizza. As the Margherita pizza recipe is simple, and uses only a handful of ingredients, giving it a fresh and herby taste, the ideal wine to go with your homemade pizza would be a lighter wine, whether white or red, and part from Chianti, you can also try pairing your Margherita pizza with French wines like Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir too. 

• Chianti: This is an ultimate pizza wine, and with the Sangiovese grape’s acidity matching that of the tomatoes, makes it a great option to add to the Margherita pizza sauce as well if you’re making it fresh for your homemade Margherita pizza.
• Pinot Grigio: With its lighter fruity notes, Pinot Grigio is a perfect white wine to pair with Margherita pizza because it complements the fresh cheesy flavours quite well.
• Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is a bit on the spicier side and with its higher tanning levels, makes for a perfect accompaniment to the herby and cheese Margherita pizza, making this wine a no-brainer.

Apart from these, you can also try the Metodo Classicos with your Margherita pizza. You’ve heard of the ever-famous Champagne from the Champagne region of France, but did you know other wine regions also produce sparkling wine made in the Metodo Classico method? Sparkling wines from the Northern part of Italy, like Usiglian del Vescovo NV Il Bruve Metodo Classico Brut Rosé, are dry and high in acidity, helping cut through the fattiness of the cheese.

Ingredients for Margherita pizza 

Here are the ingredients for Margherita pizza that you’ll need for this simple homemade Margherita pizza: 

1. Fresh pizza dough or storebought pizza base
2. 4 tablespoons of Margherita sauce
3. Extra virgin olive oil
4. 3 ounces fresh mozzarella
5. 5 to 6 basil leaves, roughly torn

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Recipe for Margherita pizza

Margherita pizza is one of the easiest to make, and perfect for beginners. If a homemade Margherita pizza is what you crave, this easy and quick recipe for Margherita is what you need.

1. First, preheat the oven to make sure your homemade Margherita pizza cooks as well as it does in the wood-fired oven in pizzerias.
2. If you are using fresh pizza dough for Margherita pizza, stretch the dough out, and then using the back of a spoon, spread the Margherita pizza sauce evenly on the surface of the stretched dough, leaving approximately half an inch from the edges. If you’re using a store-bought pizza base for your Margherita pizza, simply spread the sauce evenly on the surface.
3. After this, drizzle a little olive oil over the Margherita pizza sauce, and scatter the torn basil leaves over the top for a fresh authentic flavour in your homemade Margherita pizza recipe.
4. When it comes to cheese for Margherita pizza, it is best to use only the freshest mozzarella as it imparts an amazing taste to this Margherita pizza recipe. If you can’t find fresh mozzarella for your cheese Margherita pizza, you can always use packed mozzarella. If you like an even layer, sprinkle grated cheese on top, or if you can break the cheese into small pieces and gently place it on your Margherita pizza.
5. Pop your cheese Margherita pizza in the oven, and bake till either the crust is golden brown or the cheese is bubbling. Your Margherita pizza is ready to be relished!