Description
Neapolitan pizza is an authentic Italian classic with a crispy, chewy crust topped with fresh San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, and basil. Simple yet delicious, it’s the perfect combination of flavors that will impress anyone, whether it’s a weeknight meal or a dinner party.
Ingredients
7 cups of high-quality flour (like Caputo brand)
1 cup of warm water
4 teaspoons of kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
4 teaspoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil
1 can of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, drained and passed through a blender
8 oz. mozzarella di bufala, thinly sliced and patted dry with paper towels
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the yeast and warm water. Let it sit for 10 minutes to activate. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Stir well with a wooden spoon. Add the yeast mixture and 1 1/2 cups of ice-cold water. Knead with your hands until smooth, about 5 minutes. Add the salt and knead for another 2 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Roll each portion into a tight ball and place on a lightly floured baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 550°F (or the highest setting) for at least 20 minutes, placing a pizza stone on the lowest rack.
- Dust the dough with flour and shape it into a circle using your hands. Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper. Drizzle olive oil around the rim of the dough. Spoon about 1/4 cup of tomato sauce onto the center of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border for the crust. Season with salt and arrange a quarter of the mozzarella on top. Drizzle with more olive oil.
- Carefully transfer the dough to the preheated pizza stone using the parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the pizza from the oven. Top with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired. Slice and serve. Repeat with the remaining dough to make 4 pizzas.
Notes
- Vegetarian Version: Add toppings like fresh vegetables, arugula, or olives for a delicious twist.
- Meat Lovers: Add pepperoni, or sausage for a heartier pizza.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free flour for the crust and ensure all ingredients are gluten-free.
- Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes to the sauce or sprinkle them on top for extra heat.
- Storage: Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a hot oven (350°F) for 5-10 minutes or use a skillet to crisp up the crust.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per pizza
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pizza
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 80g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
