Neapolitan Margherita Pizza
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Neapolitan Margherita Pizza is the epitome of freshness! But this is the quick and easy way to make it – we take a shortcut with naan flatbread but still use fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella!
What You Will ❤️ About Margherita Pizza
- Fresh – just a few ingredients make a delicious pizza with a really FRESH flavor!
- Quick – by shortcutting with naan and marinara – we’re prepping in just 5 minutes
- Customizable – this is a vegetarian pizza but if someone in the house MUST have pepperoni – throw it on!
Neapolitan Margherita Pizza Ingredients
So Margherita and Neapolitan pizza are actually two separate kinds of pizza – but when you look into it – there really isn’t any difference! Originating in Naples, Italy – you’ll find a thin crust, fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. Instead of using a sauce with San Marzano tomatoes – I went with a combo of marinara and fresh cherry tomatoes.
- Naan flatbreads – I use Tandoori Naan but you can use any flatbread or pre-made crust that you like
- You can make your own dough or use frozen pizza dough as well
- Extra Virgin Olive oil
- Marinara sauce – Rao’s is a great marinara or you can go with a San Marzano-based tomato sauce
- Fresh mozzarella cheese – you can use the ball and slice it or the pearls
- Cherry tomatoes – any color of cherry tomatoes is fine – I had red from the store and orange from my garden
- Fresh Basil – growing basil is super easy – I love always having fresh around with my Aerogarden!
- Coarse Sea Salt
Recipe Variations
Originally, this was a copycat of a local pizzeria but they’ve since closed. (Looks good though – right?!) You can always customize pizza based on your tastes – here are some favorite combos:
- Pepperoni & Green Pepper – just add diced green pepper and pepperoni slices
- Sausage & Mushroom – partially brown your sausage because the 10 min in the oven isn’t long enough to cook it and then place on pizza with sliced mushrooms
- White Pizza – leave out the tomatoes and just go with olive oil, garlic, fresh mozzarella and basil
- Veggie – fine chop bell pepper, onion, broccoli, tomatoes, olives and mushrooms and have a veggie delight!
How to make Neapolitan Margherita Pizza
Neapolitan-style pizza mimics the ice cream with its three colors like the Italian flag – but this is red, white and green! Here’s how to make it:
- Preheat oven to 400º and line large cookie sheet with parchment paper
- Lay out two naan breads on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil
- Top each naan with marinara
- Drop fresh mozzarella pearls on top of marinara
- Slice cherry tomatoes in half and spread over the pizzas
- Tear fresh basil leaves and add to pizza and sprinkle lightly with salt
- Bake at 400 for 10 minutes
- Switch oven to broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes – watch closely to be sure it doesn’t get too dark – you just want to brown the cheese lightly
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Tips, Tricks & FAQs
Store leftovers in a ziploc bag for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes at 250º.
Yes – a pizza stone or a pizza peel are fine to use if you have them. I don’t have many fancy tools – so I’m just using the basics!
I think the freshness. I actually made this and my contractor was here and tried it. He said it was the best pizza he’d ever had – and I made it in 10 minutes! The freshness of the tomatoes and the mozzarella really make this pizza special!
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What to serve with pizza
More Pizza Recipes
Neopolitan Margherita Pizza
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper
- Lay out two naan breads on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil2 naan flatbread, 1 tbsp olive oil
- Top each naan with marinara1/2 cup marinara
- Drop fresh mozzarella pearls on top of marinara8 oz fresh mozzarella
- Slice cherry tomatoes in half and spread over the pizzas10 cherry tomatoes
- Tear fresh basil leaves and add to pizza and sprinkle lightly with salt5 leaves fresh basil, 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt
- Bake at 400 for 10 minutes
- Switch oven to broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes – watch closely to be sure it doesn’t get too dark – you just want to brown the cheese lightly
I love all things pizza! Can't wait to try this one! YUM!