Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

Giada De Laurentiis

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Cooking for Kids

Picture of Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil Recipe Photo: Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Read 99 Reviews
Total Time:
30 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Yield:
4 to 8 servings
Level:
Easy
x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please limit to 20 characters

Saving Recipe

Adding Recipe

Or Do Not Add

Success

This recipe was saved to your Folder_Name folder.

x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to save this recipe to your Recipe Box!!

25 Characters Max

Enter Time:

:
:

You can create up to five timers

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
  • 2 (8-ounce) pieces of homemade or purchased pizza dough, recipe follows
  • 6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/3 cups, grated pasteurized mozzarella
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced, optional
  • 6 fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm draft-free area until the dough doubles in volume, about 1 hour. Punch the down dough and divide into 2 equal balls. (The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.)

Position 1 oven rack in the center and the second rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle the cornmeal over 2 rimless baking sheets. Roll out each piece of pizza dough into a 10 to 11-inch-diameter round. Transfer 1 dough to each prepared baking sheet.

Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil over each pizza dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the pizza dough, dividing equaling and leaving a 1-inch border around each pizza. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer over the cheese. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Arrange basil leaves on top, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle garlic all over. Bake the pizzas until the crusts are crisp and brown on the bottom and the cheese is melted on top, about 15 minutes. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over each pizza. Sprinkle with basil for garnish and salt. Cut the pizza into wedges and serve immediately.

Pizza Dough:

  • 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)
  • 2 teaspoons dry yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Print Recipe

COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT

    

Sign in

All fields are required.

E-mail Address:

Password:

Remember me on this computer

Signing in

Please enter your email address and we will send your password

E-mail Address

Your password has been sent and should arrive in your mailbox very soon.

Not a member?

Sign up for My Food Network to share photos, show off your style, and connect to an enthusiastic and helpful community.

It's free and easy.

Review This Recipe

You must be signed in to review this recipe.

Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 99 reviews

  • on November 19, 2011

    Flag

    I LOVE this recipe!! I actually bought the crust (Boboli, which saved a step, and it turned out really good!!

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on September 09, 2011

    Flag

    This is a good adaptation of what I've been making for years that I call "Fresh Tomato Pizza." I layer the tomatoes - very red, ripe beefsteaks rather than roma or plumb - on the pizza dough after brushing the uncooked dough with olive oil and about one small garlic bulb pressed in a garlic press. Then I distribute a handful of chiffonade fresh basil leaves, sprinkle with crushed red pepper, then top with freshly grated or sliced mozzarella cheese. Giada puts the tomatoes on top of the cheese but I use the olive oil, fresh tomatoes, pressed garlic, and basil leaves as the "sauce." Then I top the cheese with a little more basil and crushed red. It's the bomb!

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on September 09, 2011

    Flag

    Thank you Giada for a perfect recipe. I made pizza for the first time with my family and everyone enjoyed it even my 2 yr old nephew who kept picking the tomatoes off and eating them saying yum smiling :. I altered the recipe slightly and added extra goodies such as red onions, mushrooms,olives,green peppers and pepperoni. The dough was moist and made a perfect pizza dough. I recommend anyone should try this recipe once it's easy and most of all fun.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Next Recipe

Advertisement

Free Recipe of the Day Newsletter

Let Food Network chefs plan what's for dinner, with quick and easy recipes delivered to your inbox daily.

Ads by Google