Pizza margherita in 4 easy steps
See this recipe step by step

Pizza margherita in 4 easy steps

Even a novice cook can master the art of pizza with our simple step-by-step guide. Bellissimo

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 2 pizzas, serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 25 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Pizzas uncooked

Method

  1. Make the base: Put the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the yeast and salt. Make a well, pour in 200ml warm water and the olive oil and bring together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, fairly wet dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth. Cover with a tea towel and set aside. You can leave the dough to rise if you like, but it's not essential for a thin crust.
  2. Make the sauce: Mix the passata, basil and crushed garlic together, then season to taste. Leave to stand at room temperature while you get on with shaping the base.
  3. Roll out the dough: If you've let the dough rise, give it a quick knead, then split into two balls. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into large rounds, about 25cm across, using a rolling pin. The dough needs to be very thin as it will rise in the oven. Lift the rounds onto two floured baking sheets.
  4. Top and bake: Heat oven to 240C/fan 220C /gas 8. Put another baking sheet or an upturned baking tray in the oven on the top shelf. Smooth sauce over bases with the back of a spoon. Scatter with cheese and tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and season. Put one pizza, still on its baking sheet, on top of the preheated sheet or tray. Bake for 8-10 mins until crisp. Serve with a little more olive oil, and basil leaves if using. Repeat step for remaining pizza.
Try

Troubleshooting

If the dough is too wet: Add a bit more flour and work it in. If dough is too stretchy to roll out: Leave it to rest for 10 mins or so, then try again. You need far more pressure when rolling dough than when rolling out pastry. If the base isn't cooked: Baking the pizza on top of a preheated sheet or tray should prevent this. However, it could be too thick or have too much topping. If the topping is cooked before the base, cover with foil and give it another 5 mins.

Choose your toppings

Fancy a bit more topping? Here's some suggestions. Olives, ham and chargrilled artichokes; Spicy sausage, chilli or jalapeños and sliced tomato; Spinach, garlic, gorgonzola cheese and a whole egg cracked on top; Creamy mascarpone, pesto, roasted red peppers and sliced mushrooms. Or if you are not sure what you fancy - why not do half and half.

Garlic & rosemary bread

Leave the dough a bit thicker, brush with oil and stud with rosemary sprigs. Bake for 15 mins or until risen and golden. Brush with garlic butter.

Calzone

Pile sauce and toppings onto one half of the dough circle, brush the edge with a little water, then fold and pinch to make a pasty shape. Bake until golden as before.

Per serving

431 kcalories, protein 19g, carbohydrate 59g, fat 15 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 3g, sugar 2g, salt 1,87 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, September 2007.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 161-180

  • Binder photo the_gum_queen

    04 September 2011

    the_gum_queen rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Had to use loads more flour than the recipe called for, so was getting a little disheartened after a while. However, once I'd got the right consistency and got all the sticky dough off my hands, it rolled out well and made the perfect pizzas for hubby and I. Mine was topped with artichoke, peppers, olives, aubergine and courgette; hubby added some mushrooms too, just to make me jealous!! Oh, and both of course topped off with vegan cheese! :)

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  • Binder photo Amber97

    07 September 2011

    Amber97 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Loved this Pizza and so did my family, cook it every fortnight!! :)

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  • Binder photo TiffanyW1983

    11 September 2011

    TiffanyW1983 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This was the first pizza I have ever made... and it was so good! We did need a lot of flour though, as it kept sticking to the work surface. Love how you can just add all sorts of toppings. We also kept part of the dough back and made some small balls which which had as a starter with garlic butter (just like the Pizza Express garlic dough balls!)

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  • Binder photo linda000

    29 September 2011

    linda000 commented on this recipe

    hi everybody! I am Vietnamese and i like cooking very much, especially Western foods. In my country, people still cannot afford to enjoy it whilst your food is more nutritive, therefore i hope i will learn how to cook your culinary recipes. Furthermore, I very am pleased to make friends with you.

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  • Binder photo banana16

    20 October 2011

    banana16 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Mmmm. I loved it. If you like your pizza spicier though, just add peperoni.

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  • Binder photo lovecandyfloss

    24 October 2011

    lovecandyfloss rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    this looks amazing

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  • Binder photo lovecandyfloss

    24 October 2011

    lovecandyfloss commented on this recipe

    i love this its the best pizza in the would i love it.5/5 its good not good ITS AMAZING!MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. YUM

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  • Binder photo laurs

    29 October 2011

    laurs rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Fab recipe. I cheat slightly by using a bread mix but still add olive oil. The bread mix always makes two standard pizzas and we find it so filling, only need 1 pizza for 2 adults. Have used it several times and find it cheaper (and much nicer) than shop bought pizzas.

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  • Binder photo perkyquck

    30 October 2011

    perkyquck rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Althoughthis recipe seems simple, there are couple of things that cause misunderstanding. Firstly, the pizza dough fermentation is not been explained well. Secondly, details of how to use the oven have not been explained properly. I would suggest, for readers from Asian countries, please use simple english which can be easily understood. This recipe seems too difficult to make, in contrary to its name: easy to make in steps..the recipe is way too complicated especially in oven usage.

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  • Binder photo Sherelle

    31 October 2011

    Sherelle rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made this recipe according to the instructions and for a first timer using flour and a rolling pin, this recipe couldn't be more simple. My full family had sampled my pizza and I�m yet to meet someone who is not impressed!!! I would definitely recommend this recipe to any who loves pizza, its simple and great with any topping!

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  • Binder photo Els442

    03 November 2011

    Els442 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Have used this recipe countless times now. So easy and much cheaper and more flavoursome than store bought pizza. My boyfriend says it up there with the best pizza he's ever had (and he is THE pizza monster!!), and is always asking me to make it!!

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  • Binder photo Anu

    06 November 2011

    Anu rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo Mayalina

    22 December 2011

    Mayalina commented on this recipe

    Gorgeous. The dough was a bit too wet, so added an extra small handful of flour - which worked beautifully. My stepson helped with the dough and toppings (sausage & bacon, which we cooked before putting on pizza) and my husband stood in the kitchen giving suggestions. Good recipe that everyone can join in with. Result: they absolutely loved it. "Professional!! Better than Domino's!", declared a happy hubby, who incidentally used to work in a pizza parlour. There was plenty and it fed the three of us easily. Will definitely make this again.

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  • Binder photo welshcake

    04 January 2012

    welshcake rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo paysdegex

    06 January 2012

    paysdegex commented on this recipe

    This recipe never fails to amaze - I've lost count of how many times I've been asked for the recipe. The dough for the base takes only a few minutes to make, and the kids (3 & 5) generally roll out their own - sometimes we cut them into shapes.. we've had heart-shaped pizzas and christmas tree-shaped pizzas and all sorts. Then everybody puts on their own toppings. This recipe feeds the four of us, but if we have guests or are feeling particularly hungry it's easy to make x1.5 or x2. Also makes great garlic bread.

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  • Binder photo alinabake

    28 January 2012

    alinabake rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Another five star winner! I messed up by putting pizza on chopping board and struggled to get it on the baking tray so it ended up misshapen but once cooked it was amazing. The other one, once lesson learnt, was just perfect. Yumilicious.

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  • Binder photo Niamh

    08 February 2012

    Niamh commented on this recipe

    Easy for anyone and you don't need fancy cooking utensils used a quater of the dough for my pizza used low fat cheeses put onions peppers low fat ham and pineapple and served with a large salad was really tasty and healthy :)

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  • Binder photo mummysam

    24 February 2012

    mummysam commented on this recipe

    Great recipe! Really easy and a great one to do with the kids.....cheaper and healthier then supermarket or take out pizza's!

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  • Binder photo JooC

    06 March 2012

    JooC rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This pizza base is so easy and crisps up lovely - my only problem is I can't get it to stop sticking to the baking tray!!!

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  • Binder photo Helen in Devon

    10 March 2012

    Helen in Devon rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    Kids seemed happy with it but agree with others that it was too wet and needed a lot more flour to allow any kneading. The base also seemed too doughy and sickly when eating although toppings were all very crispy.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 2 pizzas, serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 25 mins

Cook time

Cook 10 mins

Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Pizzas uncooked

Ingredients

FOR THE BASE

  • 300g strong bread flour
  • 1 tsp instant yeast (from a sachet or a tub)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil , plus extra for drizzling

FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE

FOR THE TOPPING

TO FINISH

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Per serving

431 kcalories, protein 19g, carbohydrate 59g, fat 15 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 3g, sugar 2g, salt 1,87 g

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