National Dish Italy: Pizza Margherita (Recipe)
In this article
Learn how to make a proper pizza dough and conjure up an authentic Pizza Margherita in your own kitchen. With its glorious trio of ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil, this is the most celebrated of all Italian dishes — simple, honest and utterly delicious. Few recipes capture the spirit of Italy quite so well, and once you have mastered the dough you will return to it again and again.
About Pizza Margherita
Pizza Margherita is a classic Italian dish and the national dish of Italy. Built from little more than tomatoes, cheese and basil, it is a simple yet wonderfully flavoursome meal that has earned its place on every Italian menu. It is a firm favourite with the whole family, easy to put together and endlessly adaptable — you can dress it up with all manner of extra ingredients to make it your own. If you are after a straightforward but truly tasty pizza, Pizza Margherita is exactly what you are looking for.
Ingredients (serves 1–2)
- 200 g plain flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 sachet dried yeast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 150 ml warm water
- 300 g tomatoes, peeled and sliced
- 200 g mozzarella, diced
- 2 tbsp freshly chopped basil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Shopping for the ingredients
When shopping for the ingredients, take care to choose tomatoes that are fresh and ripe, mozzarella that is good and fresh, and basil that you can chop freshly yourself. Reach for an extra-virgin olive oil for a deeper, rounder flavour. It is also worth picking up a good-quality flour and a reliable dried yeast, since the base is every bit as important as the topping.
Preparing the dish
You can make the dough a few hours ahead of time and leave it to rest somewhere cool, which gives the flavour time to develop. The tomato-and-cheese topping can also be prepared a few hours in advance. The components should only be brought together shortly before baking, however, so the base stays crisp and the topping fresh.
Step-by-step instructions
- Mix the flour, salt, dried yeast and olive oil together in a bowl.
- Add the warm water and knead everything into a smooth, springy dough.
- Shape the dough into a ball and leave it to prove in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough out on a floured work surface and lay it into a greased pizza tin.
- Spread the tomatoes, mozzarella and basil evenly over the dough.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake the pizza in a preheated oven at 220°C for about 20 minutes.
Gluten-free / lactose-free version
Pizza Margherita is easy to adapt for special diets. For a gluten-free version, simply swap the plain flour for a good gluten-free flour blend, which makes the base suitable for anyone with a gluten intolerance. For a lactose-free version, choose one of the many lactose-free mozzarella alternatives now widely available. With a few small swaps, everyone at the table can enjoy this Italian classic without a second thought.
Tips for vegans and vegetarians
Pizza Margherita is naturally vegetarian, and turning it fully vegan is wonderfully easy. Replace the mozzarella with a plant-based cheese that melts well, and the dish loses none of its character. Take care to check that your other ingredients, such as ready-made spice blends, are free from hidden animal products. Fresh tomatoes and basil do most of the work here, so seasonal produce will always reward you with the best flavour.
More tips and tricks
For a better aroma, always use fresh basil and an extra-virgin olive oil. You can also add other toppings such as onions, mushrooms, peppers, olives or ham to give your pizza a personal touch. If you prefer a crisper base, bake the pizza at a higher temperature — a really hot oven is the secret behind the lovely charred edges you find in a proper pizzeria.
Adapting the recipe to your taste
You can tailor this recipe to your own preferences by adding or swapping out ingredients. Replace the mozzarella with a different cheese, scatter over various vegetables, or reach for other herbs and spices. If you like things a little lighter, simply use less olive oil. The same easy-going spirit runs right through Italian cuisine, so feel free to make the recipe your own.
Ingredient substitutions
You can also use other ingredients if you cannot find a particular product or simply do not care for it. Instead of mozzarella, for example, ricotta or even a mild Gouda works nicely. You might also use fresh garlic or other fresh herbs in place of basil. For a richer, saucier base, a homemade Salsa di Pomodoro makes a lovely starting point, much as it would for a Pizza al Taglio.
Drink pairing ideas
A cold beer or a light white wine goes beautifully with Pizza Margherita. You might equally choose a fresh fruit juice or a light red wine, depending on your mood. The clean, bright flavours of the pizza pair happily with almost anything, so let the occasion guide you and keep things relaxed.
Serving and presentation ideas
Pizza Margherita is a very simple dish, but it can still be presented beautifully. Use an attractive baking tray or a proper pizza stone to serve it with a little flourish. A scattering of fresh herbs or a final drizzle of olive oil makes a lovely garnish. Bring it to the table whole and slice it in front of your guests for that authentic Italian feel.
A bit of history
Pizza Margherita was created in 1889 to mark the visit of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy to Naples. The pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito dreamed up the dish, topping it with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil so that its colours echoed the green, white and red of the Italian flag — and named it in honour of the queen. From those Neapolitan roots it has grown into one of the most recognisable dishes in the world.
More recipe ideas
Summary: Pizza Margherita
Pizza Margherita is a classic Italian dish and the national dish of Italy. Made from tomatoes, cheese and basil, it is a simple yet thoroughly delicious meal that is easy to prepare and can be adapted with all sorts of ingredients to make it even better. Whether you keep it pure and traditional or add a personal twist, this is comfort food at its finest. If you are after a simple but tasty pizza, Pizza Margherita is exactly the recipe for you — give it a try and bring a taste of Italy to your table.
