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Margherita Pizza with Pesto

By Alli Berkey

Published on June 26, 2016

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Margherita Pizza with Pesto

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound pizza dough, room temperature1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick and patted dry with paper towels½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ cup pesto

Before You Begin

Be sure to use fresh mozzarella packed in water, not low-moisture mozzarella, in this recipe.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Grease rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil. Press and roll dough into 15 by 11-inch rectangle on lightly floured counter. Transfer dough to prepared sheet and press to edges of sheet. Brush edges of dough with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake dough until top appears dry and bottom is just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
  2. Remove crust from oven and pop any large bubbles with tip of paring knife. Scatter tomatoes over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border around edge. Arrange mozzarella over tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until crust is light golden around edges and mozzarella is melted, about 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.
  3. Transfer pizza to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Mix pesto and remaining 2 tablespoons oil until smooth and drizzle over pizza. Slice and serve.
Margherita Pizza with Pesto

Margherita Pizza with Pesto

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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound pizza dough, room temperature
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick and patted dry with paper towels
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup pesto

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound pizza dough, room temperature
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick and patted dry with paper towels
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup pesto

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound pizza dough, room temperature
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick and patted dry with paper towels
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup pesto

Why This Recipe Works

Using prepared pesto is a convenient timesaver. Buitoni Pesto with Basil is the test kitchen’s favorite.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use fresh mozzarella packed in water, not low-moisture mozzarella, in this recipe.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Grease rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil. Press and roll dough into 15 by 11-inch rectangle on lightly floured counter. Transfer dough to prepared sheet and press to edges of sheet. Brush edges of dough with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake dough until top appears dry and bottom is just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
  2. Remove crust from oven and pop any large bubbles with tip of paring knife. Scatter tomatoes over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border around edge. Arrange mozzarella over tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until crust is light golden around edges and mozzarella is melted, about 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.
  3. Transfer pizza to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Mix pesto and remaining 2 tablespoons oil until smooth and drizzle over pizza. Slice and serve.

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