Pizza Margherita
Pizza Margherita is the most common pizza in Italy. It took its name from Queen Margherita. In the summer of 1889 King Umberto I and the Queen Margherita went, as always, to spend 3 months in their summer Residence at Capodimonte. They heard about this dish called pizza and they asked to try it. The most famous “pizzaiolo” of Naples was called at the Court to prepare it for the sovrans. He created a new pizza especially for them with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella in honor of our flag. It was a great success. The next day he named this pizza Margherita.
This is my dinner every Sunday. I also use different toppings, but his is my favorite.
Ingredients:
The following ingredients are for one pizza, or half the dough
recipe:
2 cups fresh Italian mozzarella cut in cubes
2 Tsp. dry oregano
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes without the juice
1/2 tsp. salt
olive oil to grease
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450°.
2. Grease a baking sheet approximately 15 ” X 11″ with olive oil. I use a regular rectangular baking sheet, but if you want to use a round pan the equivalent should be about a 14″ pizza pan.
3. Roll half the dough using a rolling pin or simply use your fingers to spread it on the baking sheet.
4. In a bowl add the tomatoes cut in pieces and combine them well with the salt and oil. Allow the excess tomato juice to run off before adding the tomatoes to the bowl.
5. Spread the tomato mixture over the pizza crust and sprinkle it with the oregano.
6. Cook for 15 minutes and then add the mozzarella. Cook it for other 5-10 minutes, the exact cooking time depends on the oven I have an electric one. The gas one should be faster.
