Pizza with Tomato Sauce - Delicious and Easy Recipe
Pizza is undoubtedly one of the most beloved dishes worldwide. This simple tomato sauce pizza recipe will take you on a culinary journey full of flavors and textures. A perfect pizza is a mix of fresh ingredients, a crispy crust, and a rich sauce, and this recipe will provide you with all of that, plus a dash of creativity. Let's get started!
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 225 g flour (the idea is to use type 00 flour for a finer crust)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cube fresh yeast (approx. 20 g)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (for a more intense flavor)
For the tomato sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped (the onion adds sweetness)
- 1 clove garlic, crushed (for flavor)
- 200 g canned tomatoes, chopped (or fresh tomatoes in season)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (for flavor enhancement)
- 1 bay leaf (for an aromatic note)
- a pinch of sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)
For toppings:
- 1 egg (to add richness)
- 100 g grated cheese (you can use mozzarella or a mix of cheeses)
- Optional: ham, bacon, salami, mushrooms, olives, sausages, tomatoes, bell peppers (choose your favorite ingredients)
Preparing the dough
1. Mixing dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast. Make sure the yeast is well dispersed in the flour to avoid lumps.
2. Adding wet ingredients: Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the olive oil. Then, gradually add hot water, mixing with a fork or your hands until you obtain a soft and elastic dough.
3. Kneading the dough: On a floured surface, knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour.
4. Letting it rise: Form a ball from the dough and lightly coat it with oil. Place it in a clean bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise for 15-20 minutes until it doubles in size.
Preparing the tomato sauce
1. Sautéing the onion and garlic: In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and crushed garlic, sautéing for 5 minutes until golden and fragrant.
2. Adding the tomatoes: Incorporate the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, mixing well. Add the bay leaf and a pinch of sugar to reduce acidity.
3. Cooking the sauce: Cover the pot and let the sauce simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens. Remove the bay leaf before using the sauce.
Assembling the pizza
1. Preheating the oven: Preheat the oven to 220°C (or 200°C with fan) for a well-baked crust.
2. Rolling out the dough: Once the dough has risen, on an oiled surface, roll it out with a rolling pin or your hands, forming a round or square shape, depending on the pan used.
3. Placing in the pan: Transfer the dough to the oiled pizza pan. Use your palms to adjust it to fit the shape of the pan.
4. Adding the sauce: Pour the tomato sauce over the rolled-out dough, ensuring it is evenly distributed.
5. Toppings: Add your favorite ingredients on top of the sauce, such as ham, mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers. Be creative! You can add any other ingredient that catches your eye.
6. Finalizing the pizza: Beat the egg and pour it evenly over the toppings. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
Baking the pizza
1. Baking: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the pizza for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
2. Cooling: Once the pizza is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing.
Serving suggestions
Serve the pizza hot, alongside a fresh salad or a yogurt-garlic sauce for a delicious contrast. A bottle of red wine or a cold beer are perfect accompaniments for this meal.
Variations and helpful tips
- Topping variations: Try different combinations of cheeses, vegetables, or cold cuts. Each variation brings a new taste experience!
- Gluten-free dough: If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can use gluten-free flour to make the dough.
- Pizza on a stone: If you have a pizza stone, use it for an even crunchier crust. Make sure the stone is preheated.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
Absolutely! Fresh tomatoes are excellent, especially in season. Make sure to remove the skin and seeds for a smoother sauce.
2. What can I do with leftover pizza?
Pizza keeps very well in the fridge and can be reheated in the oven or on the stovetop. You can turn leftovers into delicious sandwiches!
3. What are the nutritional benefits of pizza?
Pizza can be a balanced meal, filled with carbohydrates from the dough, proteins from meat and cheese, as well as vitamins from vegetables. However, be mindful of the amounts of fatty ingredients!
Conclusion
This tomato sauce pizza recipe is not only delicious but also easy to prepare, perfect for a quick dinner or a party with friends. Whether you choose to personalize it or follow the recipe step by step, the result will always be impressive. Don't forget to enjoy each step of cooking and express your creativity! Enjoy!
Pizza is undoubtedly one of the most beloved dishes worldwide. This simple tomato sauce pizza recipe will take you on a culinary journey full of flavors and textures. A perfect pizza is a mix of fresh ingredients, a crispy crust, and a rich sauce, and this recipe will provide you with all of that, plus a dash of creativity. Let's get started!
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 225 g flour (the idea is to use type 00 flour for a finer crust)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cube fresh yeast (approx. 20 g)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (for a more intense flavor)
For the tomato sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped (the onion adds sweetness)
- 1 clove garlic, crushed (for flavor)
- 200 g canned tomatoes, chopped (or fresh tomatoes in season)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (for flavor enhancement)
- 1 bay leaf (for an aromatic note)
- a pinch of sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)
For toppings:
- 1 egg (to add richness)
- 100 g grated cheese (you can use mozzarella or a mix of cheeses)
- Optional: ham, bacon, salami, mushrooms, olives, sausages, tomatoes, bell peppers (choose your favorite ingredients)
Preparing the dough
1. Mixing dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast. Make sure the yeast is well dispersed in the flour to avoid lumps.
2. Adding wet ingredients: Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the olive oil. Then, gradually add hot water, mixing with a fork or your hands until you obtain a soft and elastic dough.
3. Kneading the dough: On a floured surface, knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour.
4. Letting it rise: Form a ball from the dough and lightly coat it with oil. Place it in a clean bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise for 15-20 minutes until it doubles in size.
Preparing the tomato sauce
1. Sautéing the onion and garlic: In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and crushed garlic, sautéing for 5 minutes until golden and fragrant.
2. Adding the tomatoes: Incorporate the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, mixing well. Add the bay leaf and a pinch of sugar to reduce acidity.
3. Cooking the sauce: Cover the pot and let the sauce simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens. Remove the bay leaf before using the sauce.
Assembling the pizza
1. Preheating the oven: Preheat the oven to 220°C (or 200°C with fan) for a well-baked crust.
2. Rolling out the dough: Once the dough has risen, on an oiled surface, roll it out with a rolling pin or your hands, forming a round or square shape, depending on the pan used.
3. Placing in the pan: Transfer the dough to the oiled pizza pan. Use your palms to adjust it to fit the shape of the pan.
4. Adding the sauce: Pour the tomato sauce over the rolled-out dough, ensuring it is evenly distributed.
5. Toppings: Add your favorite ingredients on top of the sauce, such as ham, mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers. Be creative! You can add any other ingredient that catches your eye.
6. Finalizing the pizza: Beat the egg and pour it evenly over the toppings. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
Baking the pizza
1. Baking: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the pizza for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
2. Cooling: Once the pizza is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing.
Serving suggestions
Serve the pizza hot, alongside a fresh salad or a yogurt-garlic sauce for a delicious contrast. A bottle of red wine or a cold beer are perfect accompaniments for this meal.
Variations and helpful tips
- Topping variations: Try different combinations of cheeses, vegetables, or cold cuts. Each variation brings a new taste experience!
- Gluten-free dough: If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can use gluten-free flour to make the dough.
- Pizza on a stone: If you have a pizza stone, use it for an even crunchier crust. Make sure the stone is preheated.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
Absolutely! Fresh tomatoes are excellent, especially in season. Make sure to remove the skin and seeds for a smoother sauce.
2. What can I do with leftover pizza?
Pizza keeps very well in the fridge and can be reheated in the oven or on the stovetop. You can turn leftovers into delicious sandwiches!
3. What are the nutritional benefits of pizza?
Pizza can be a balanced meal, filled with carbohydrates from the dough, proteins from meat and cheese, as well as vitamins from vegetables. However, be mindful of the amounts of fatty ingredients!
Conclusion
This tomato sauce pizza recipe is not only delicious but also easy to prepare, perfect for a quick dinner or a party with friends. Whether you choose to personalize it or follow the recipe step by step, the result will always be impressive. Don't forget to enjoy each step of cooking and express your creativity! Enjoy!