Nothing beats a homemade pizza with a perfectly crispy crust, simple tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil. This recipe requires some planning for the dough rise, but the results are worth it.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 325ml warm water
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 7g instant dried yeast
• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the Topping:

• 400g can of good quality Italian tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 300g fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces
• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

1. Make the dough: Mix flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix warm water with yeast and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.

2. Pour the yeast mixture and olive oil into the flour. Mix until it comes together, then knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

3. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel, and leave in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

4. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Crush the tomatoes by hand. Heat olive oil in a pan, add garlic, and cook for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until thickened.

5. Preheat your oven to its highest setting (usually 240-250°C/475-480°F). If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up.

6. Divide the dough into 4 portions. On a floured surface, stretch or roll each portion into a thin circle about 25cm diameter.

7. Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on each base, leaving a 1cm border. Add torn mozzarella pieces.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden and crispy, and the cheese is bubbling.

9. Remove from oven, add fresh basil leaves, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and serve immediately.

Notes

For the best crust, let the dough rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight instead of the quick 1-2 hour rise.

If you don’t have a pizza stone, use an inverted baking sheet preheated in the oven.

Don’t overload the pizza with toppings or sauce. Less is more for achieving that crispy crust.