Margherita Pizza with Fresh Basil

Ingredients

Pizza dough

1 pound (for one 12-inch pizza)

Tomato sauce

1 cup

Fresh mozzarella cheese

8 ounces, sliced

Fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup, torn

Olive oil

1 tablespoon

Salt

1/2 teaspoon (to taste)

Black pepper

1/4 teaspoon (to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C) and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat up.
2. On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness, aiming for a 12-inch circle.
3. Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough to a piece of parchment paper or a floured pizza peel for easy transfer to the oven.
4. Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.
5. Arrange the sliced fresh mozzarella cheese evenly on top of the sauce.
6. Drizzle the olive oil over the cheese, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Using the parchment paper or pizza peel, slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Once done, remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
10. Top with torn fresh basil leaves just before serving for a burst of flavor and freshness.