Margarita Pizza is a pizza classic. This style of pizza was originally made for Queen Margherita, the Queen of Italy by a man named Esposito in Naples in 1889. Italy, Queen Margherita. The ingredients you find in Margarita pizza are typically fresh basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.
During the summer I grow container gardens of herbs, basil is one that I love. This summer I have had fresh salad Caprese and homemade pesto. I have enjoyed every minute of growing my own herbs. Margarita pizza is a wonderful way to use your fresh basil.
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Margherita Pizza History
How did this pizza get its name? This style of pizza was originally made for Queen Margherita, the Queen of Italy.
In 1889, Queen Margherita of Savoy, the wife of King Umberto I, paid a visit to Naples. In honor of the Queen, chef Raffaele Esposito created a pizza to celebrate the unification of Italy.
He designed a pizza to represent the Italian flag that was now flying throughout the new nation-state. To honor the Queen who had come to Naples, the pizza was christened Pizza Margherita.
Margherita Pizza Ingredients
Margarita pizza (or Margherita pizza for its Italian spelling) is a classic in the wonderful world of Italian pizza. The most common ingredients you find in Margherita pizza are fresh basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Margherita pizza sauce is really just a simple combination of freshly chopped tomatoes, oregano, and olive oil.
Here’s what you need for this Margherita pizza recipe:
- Pizza dough
- Vine-ripened tomatoes
- Garlic clove
- Fresh oregano
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Buffalo mozzarella
- Fresh basil leaves
How to Grow Your Own Basil
Basil is an annual plant that is easy to grow. It grows very fast under the right conditions. Two or three plants will yield a lot of fresh leaves.
Many gardeners enjoy mixing various varieties of basil in their flower beds, where it is ready for a quick harvest anytime. It’s also great for containers.
The perfect spot to place your basil containers is where there is just enough sun to give you an abundant crop. Your basil will not be happy in the hot sun all day long. For more details on growing basil, read this how to grow basil guide.
Margherita Pizza Toppings
What is on a Margarita Pizza? Essentially, the colors of the Italian flag – red, white, and green. The tomato stands for the color red, the mozzarella for white, and the basil represents the color green.
The other ingredients are garlic, fresh oregano, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. It’s a tasty vegetarian pizza to make, especially in the summer when fresh tomatoes are in season.
How to Make Margarita Pizza
- Place tomatoes in a bowl and cover them with boiling water for 1 minute.
- Drain and rinse them in cold water, then peel away the skins.
- Chop the tomatoes.
- Place chopped tomatoes in a bowl with oregano, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch round and transfer it to a baking sheet.
- Spread the tomato mixture over the dough, leaving about ½-inch at the edge for there to be a crust.
- Scatter the mozzarella cheese and basil on top of the sauce.
- Drizzle olive oil on top.
- Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 14 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is browned.
Do you love pizza? Try these recipes!
- Dominos Pizza Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
- Easy Homemade Pizza Dough
- Formaggio Pizza
- Pillsbury Veggie Pizza
- Thanksgiving Pizza
Popular Italian Recipes
- Creamy Alfredo Sauce
- Garlic Parmesan Risotto
- Hamburger Helper Lasagna
- Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe
- Shrimp Carbonara Recipe
- Spaghetti Casserole
Check out more of my easy Italian recipes and the best vegetarian recipes here on CopyKat!
Margarita Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough
- 4 vine-ripened tomatoes
- 1 garlic clove chopped
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 pound buffalo mozzarella sliced
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Place tomatoes in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and let stand for 1 minute.
- Drain, rinse tomatoes in cold water, then peel away the skins.
- Roughly chop the tomatoes.
- Place chopped tomatoes in a bowl with chopped oregano, chopped garlic, and oil.
- Add salt and pepper.
- If the tomatoes are quite juicy, you can choose to strain off some of the juice.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch round and place it on a baking sheet.
- Spread the tomato mixture over the dough. Spread it to the edges but leave a border.
- Place sliced mozzarella cheese and basil on top of the sauce.
- Drizzle olive oil over the pizza.
- Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 14 minutes. The cheese should be bubbly and the crust should be slightly browned.
This is one of my favorite pizza recipes
Reminds me of the Pizza’s I had in Milan.