Margherita Pizza

Prepare the Pizza Dough In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. In a small bowl, mix together the warm water and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.

Let the Dough Rise Pour the yeast mixture and olive oil into the bowl with the flour mixture. Stir until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

Make the Pizza Sauce While the dough is rising, prepare the pizza sauce. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Shape the Dough Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C). Punch down the risen dough and divide it into two equal portions. Roll out each portion into a 12-inch round circle on a floured surface.

Top the Pizza Transfer the rolled-out dough to a baking sheet or pizza stone. Spread a generous amount of pizza sauce on each dough round, leaving a small border around the edges. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Arrange sliced plum tomatoes on top and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake and Serve Bake the pizzas in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and slice into wedges.