Margherita pizza

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Ingredients

For the dough

  • 500g strong white bread flour
  • 1 x 7g sachet Easy Bake yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 260 – 300 ml warm water

For the margherita pizza tomato topping

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 3 tbsp tomato puree
  • Pinch of chilli flakes
  • 1 x 125g mozzarella ball, drained and ripped

Other topping suggestions

  • Cheddar, grated
  • RSPCA Assured ham, torn into strips
  • Sweetcorn kernels, canned
  • Pineapple rings, fresh or canned
  • RSPCA Assured cooked bacon, chopped
  • Black pitted olives
  • Capers
  • Goat cheese
  • Rocket
  • Caramelised onion

 

Method

Cook-up a basic Margherita pizza and then lay on extra toppings so the family can create their own favourite flavours. 

For the pizza dough

  • Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a big bowl.
  • Mix the water and oil together, add most of the liquid and mix into a dough, adding more liquid if necessary.
  • Tip onto a lightly flour dusted surface and knead for 10 minutes.  This could also be done with a food mixer fitted with a dough hook.  
  • Put the dough into a large mixing bowl, greased with some oil.
  • Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel or cling film and leave to rise for one to one-and-a-half hours, until doubled in size.

For the tomato sauce 

  • Warm the olive oil in a large, deep frying pan.
  • Add the onion and the dried oregano.
  • Fry over a medium heat until the onion is soft and transparent. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and chilli.
  • Simmer for about 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
  • If the sauce is too thick, just add boiling water to loosen the mix.  Take off the heat until ready to use.
  • Whilst your tomato sauce is cooking, prepare the other toppings

To assemble and cook

  • Preheat your oven to 220°C/fan 200°C /gas 8.
  • Flour two baking sheets, divide the dough into four pieces. 
  • Leave three pieces under the tea towel or cling film, to stop them drying out.
  • Roll the first piece of dough to as thin as you can get it on a lightly floured surface.
  • Lift carefully onto a floured baking sheet or pizza stone.
  • Add the tomato sauce and mozzarella and invite the family to add any other toppings of their choice. 
  • Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until crisp and golden on top.
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