Margherita Pizza - Sauce on Top
This twist on the classic Margherita features a cheese-first approach, with fresh mozzarella and Grana Padano tucked beneath a bold, homemade tomato sauce. Finished with oregano, a drizzle of EVOO, and fresh basil leaves, it’s a beautifully balanced and flavourful take on an all-time favourite.Follow our step-by-step instructions and you'll be indulging in a slice of this delicious Margherita pizza with sauce on top in no time. Bon appétit! And don't forget to check out some of our other pizza recipes for inspiration for your next pie day!
Equipment
- Outdoor Pizza Oven, Pizza Steel, or Stone (if using a home oven)
- 1 Pizza Peel
- 1 sauce ladle
- 1 wooden chopping board or peel for prep and serving
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough ball
- 1 ladle of pizza sauce
- Fresh mozzarella cheese
- Low moisture mozzarella cheese
- Grana padano cheese
- Fresh basil leaves
- Dried oregano
- Extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Follow any of our dough recipes. You will need to prepare the dough at least 24 hours ahead of time.
- Prepare Sauce: We recommend our standard pizza sauce which is versatile, simple to make and is perfect for Neapolitan style pizzas. Spice up this sauce however you like, remember the best part about making pizza is the creative process!
- Prepare Cheese: Place your fresh mozzarella in a container or bowl with a paper towel at the bottom to allow some of the water to drain. Finely grate the grana padano, tear both the fresh and low moisture mozzarella into medium-sized pieces. Set aside.
- Preheat Oven:If using an outdoor pizza like an Ooni pizza oven, aim for a temperature of 450-500°C at the center of your pizza stone. Use an infrared thermometer to ensure accuracy. It should take around 25-30 minutes to reach temperature.For a home oven, using a pizza steel or stone, place the stone or steel inside the oven and preheat to the highest temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare Base: On a lightly floured surface, stretch out the dough by hand according to the steps outlined in our dough recipe. Once you're happy with the shape of the base, lightly dust your pizza peel and transfer the dough onto the peel.
- Assemble Pizza: Start by placing the mozzarella cheeses evenly across the dough, ensuring the pieces are about 2 cm in diameter and at least 1.5 cm apart. Next, sprinkle a generous amount of Grana Padano over the cheese. Spoon a layer of sauce in a circular motion, starting from the center and working outwards, allowing it to settle between the cheese pieces. Finish with a sprinkle of dried oregano and a drizzle of EVOO.
- Bake Your Pizza:If you're using an outdoor pizza oven, launch the pizza into the oven and bake for 60-90 seconds. Keep an eye on the pie and rotate every 10-15 seconds to ensure even cooking and to avoid burning.For a home oven with a pizza steel or stone, the bake time should be around 7-10 minutes.
- Serving: Once the pizza is done, remove it from the oven and place it on a serving board. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, and enjoy your delicious sauce on top Margherita pizza!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!