🍕 Neapolitan Pizza Recipe: Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil

🍕 Neapolitan Pizza : Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil

 

Neapolitan pizza is the original masterpiece of the pizza world. Hailing from Naples, Italy, it’s a culinary tradition protected by strict standards, emphasizing simplicity, quality, and freshness. At its core, the Neapolitan pizza is a minimalist yet deeply flavorful creation: a thin, soft crust with a slightly chewy and charred edge, topped with just three key ingredients—fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fragrant basil.

The dough is made from finely milled ‘00’ flour, water, salt, and yeast, allowed to ferment slowly for a light, airy texture. San Marzano tomatoes, grown in the volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius, are often used for their sweet, robust flavor. Fresh mozzarella—ideally buffalo mozzarella—melts beautifully, blending with the tomato in perfect harmony. A few fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil complete the pizza, symbolizing the colors of the Italian flag.

Traditionally baked in a wood-fired oven at over 900°F, the pizza cooks in just 60–90 seconds. The result is a blistered, yet tender crust with rich, balanced flavors. Neapolitan pizza is not just food; it’s a slice of Italian heritage, artistry, and pride—honoring the beauty of less being more.

Neapolitan Pizza Recipe: Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil

Ingredients (Serves 2)

• Pizza Dough:

  • 2 cups ‘00’ flour (or all-purpose flour)

  • ¾ cup lukewarm water

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ½ tsp dry yeast

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

• Toppings:

  • ½ cup San Marzano tomato sauce (or quality crushed tomatoes)

  • 4 oz fresh mozzarella (preferably buffalo mozzarella)

  • Fresh basil leaves (6–8)

  • Olive oil for drizzling

  • Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Make the Dough:

   • In a bowl, mix flour and salt. Dissolve yeast in warm water, let sit for 5 minutes.

   • Combine flour, yeast-water, and olive oil. Knead into a soft dough for 8–10 minutes.

   • Cover and let rise for 1–2 hours until doubled in size.

2. Preheat Oven:

   • Preheat your oven as hot as it will go (ideally 500°F/260°C+). Use a pizza stone or steel if possible.

3. Assemble Pizza:

   • Roll out dough thinly. Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce, tear mozzarella over it, and add basil leaves.

4. Bake:

   • Bake 7–10 minutes until crust is golden and cheese bubbly. Drizzle olive oil before serving.