Quick Italian pizza
Who doesn't love pizza? Whether your eight or eighty, everyone seems to enjoy a good slice, or two, of authentic Italian pizza. Many variations of pizza have popped up over the years, but it all began with a basic cheese pizza. Because of the popularity of pizza today, it can be quite expensive. Even for just a "basic" tomato and cheese pizza. Wouldn't you just love to be able to recreate that fabulous pizza taste right from your very own kitchen? Well, it is truly not that difficult and not even that expensive. Try it and your friends and family will think it is from your favorite local pizza parlor!
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 500° F (225° C).
Stretch pizza dough until able to fit on pizza stone. Now, this may in fact take some practice. Remember that we are striving for a great tasting pizza here, the perfect "look" of the pizza will come with practice. Sprinkle a bit of flour on a clean surface and with your hands and rolling pin, stretch the dough till you are able to cover the stone.
Brush dough with a bit of oil and apply an ample amount of tomato sauce. When applying the sauce try and not get too close to the edge of the dough. Focus on the middle and do not over sauce. Just enough to coat is fine.
Thinly slice mozzarella and apply to pizza until entire surface is covered.
Bake in oven approximately 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted and hot and pizza crust is brown and crispy.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle oregano over the pizza.
Notes
Important: Try and manipulate the dough as little as possible, because too much handling can often leave the dough tough.
Refrigerated pizza dough can be found in higher end supermarkets. You can also visit your local pizza establishment and ask if they will sell one to you. Many times they are happy to oblige. Just stay away from anything that comes in a refrigerated tube. Another option is to actually make your own dough. Though quite simple, we want to make this recipe as simple as possible.
Applying oil to the crust of the pizza makes it crispy.
Please, please, do not use jarred or canned tomato sauce for this. Basic Italian tomato sauce is extremely simple to make, you can make it in large batches, use it in a variety of recipes, and it freezes great. Also, the taste difference is incredible between the two. Find a simple, basic recipe. You won't be disappointed.
Flour is just used to sprinkle on the area that you use to stretch the dough out so it doesn't stick.
Suggestions for pizza toppings: Tomato slices; spinach; pitted olives, either green or black, sliced; anchovy fillets; other types of cheese; sliced mushrooms; pepperoni; bell peppers and many more.
Substitute basil with oregano or use a mix of the two, depending on the pizza toppings used.
You'll also need: A good quality rolling pin, a pizza stone, a pizza cutter, and a food brush.
Source
Food in Europe