Picture this: You’re in Naples, Italy, where the pizza is legendary. You decide to try a classic Margherita pizza at a cozy pizzeria, and when it arrives—thin, crispy crust, just a hint of char from the wood fire, vibrant red sauce, and gooey cheese—it’s a masterpiece. You think to yourself, “I need to learn how to make this at home!”
Here’s how: The foundation of any pizza is the dough. For the perfect texture, we recommend “00” pizza flour—it’s super fine and easy to work with. If you can’t find it, regular all-purpose flour will do the trick. Mix in yeast, warm water, salt, and a splash of Botticelli Baking Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This adds a rich depth of flavor, helping the dough achieve that perfect golden hue when baked.
The sauce is key. Botticelli’s pizza sauces are made with the freshest Italian-style tomatoes, plus garden-fresh basil and herbs. Go with their Traditional Style Pizza Sauce or try the new Hot Honey Pizza Sauce for a sweet and spicy kick.
For cheese, fresh mozzarella is a must. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for a mix of gorgonzola, mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano, and fontina for a four-cheese pizza. But mozzarella is always the star.
Now, for toppings: If you're a meat lover, try pepperoni, Italian sausage (hot or sweet), ham, or prosciutto. Veggie fans will love eggplant, black olives, mushrooms, or artichokes. Or keep it simple with a cheese pizza and add fresh toppings like arugula, raw spinach, or burrata after baking.
For cooking, place a cold pizza stone in your oven and preheat it to 500°F for about 45 minutes. This mimics the heat of a wood-burning oven and helps make the crust perfectly crispy. Don’t forget to sprinkle semolina flour on the stone to prevent sticking.
Bake until the crust is to your liking and the cheese is bubbling and golden.
Once your pizzas out of the oven, drizzle a little Botticelli Finishing Extra Virgin Olive Oil on top to give it a final burst of flavor.
And finally… don’t forget the most important ingredient: Amore! A little love always makes everything taste better.