Margherita Pizza

This easy Margherita pizza recipe makes a great healthy pizza recipe for a cocktail party or as a main dinner dish.

This healthy pizza recipe was first created in the late 1800's in Naples. It was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy after she was served a pizza resembling the colors of the Italian flag.

These colors, of course, came from the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Voila, the Margherita pie was born and is still going strong today.



Many say you need a NY style or Neapolitan style crust to have a true pizza Margherita. And since the topping and ingredients are few, make sure you use really fresh stuff.

Fresh crushed tomatoes or canned tomatoes work better for this type of pizza then tomato sauce. Fresh basil and slices of mozzarella round out this awesome pizza.

This pizza recipe makes a perfect appetizer at a shower or cocktail party.

Ingredients

  • 1 prepared pizza dough recipe (can use refrigerated dough too)
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil (will need a little more for brushing on the dough)
  • 1 garlic clove, halved
  • 4 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 3/4 pound)
  • 1 ball of mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced (can use 1 cup shredded fresh mozzarella cheese)
  • 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°.

Spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray (I use Pam).

Place dough on the baking sheet and press into a 13 x 11-inch rectangle.

Bake at 400° for 7-8 minutes.

Remove crust from oven, and brush with a little olive oil.

Rub crust with cut sides of garlic.

Arrange tomato and cheese slices (or shredded cheese) on crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border.

Bake at 450° for 12-15 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is golden.

Whisk together 1 teaspoon oil and 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar in a small bowl.

Sprinkle pizza evenly with sliced basil, salt, and pepper.

Drizzle the vinegar mixture evenly over the pizza.

Cut pizza into square pieces.

Enjoy!



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