Easy Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita is so quick and easy. Since there is very little skill or work involved, the pizza is just as good as the ingredients you can find. The freshest and best quality mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and pizza dough will make a big difference.  Even with very good ingredients, this pizza is still only about $10 or less. The basic method is to roll out the dough and bake it plain for about 8 minutes to make it crispy. While it's in the oven, slice the cheese and tomatoes and then compile everything and bake for about 10-12 minutes more.



INGREDIENTS:

1 ball (10-16 oz) pre-made pizza dough
Corn meal to sprinkle on pan
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, halved
2-3 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 ball of fresh salted mozzarella (about 6 ounces)
5-10 fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces

DIRECTIONS:

If using frozen pizza dough, follow directions to thaw. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle a thin coating of corn meal onto the pizza pan to prevent the crust from sticking. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to fit on round pizza pan. Place the dough on the pizza pan and bake for 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes and mozzarella into thin slices and tear the basil. When the pizza crust is ready, brush it with olive oil and rub the halved clove of garlic all over the crust. Place the tomatoes and basil on the crust and then cover with slices of mozzarella. Make sure the basil is mostly covered so it does not burn.

Return the pizza to the oven and cook for about 10-12 minutes more, or until the crust is brown around the edges and the cheese is brown and bubbly.

Cut into pieces and serve. Serves 2-3.