Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Cooking for Kids

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (74)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(74)

Cook Time:
15 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 15 min
Total:: 30 min

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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

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Nicholas Highland, NY 11-06-2009
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Best pizza in NY
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Even with all the great pizza here in NY, this pizza is what this Italian family and I love the most and I've been making it... for a couple of years now. I highly recommend getting a pizza stone and make sure it's in the oven for at least 30 minutes or longer at 450 before putting in the pizza as it makes the bottom of this thin crust perfect. I prepare the pizza on a pizza peel with a liberal amount of cornmeal to make it slide right off onto the stone when putting it in the oven. When I don't have time to make the dough, I'll purchase the dough from a bakery or pizzeria only. Also, I tried fresh mozzarella a few times but it's too watery so I use the packaged mozzarella and it's easier to grate. We constantly get requests for this when having our friends over as well. FIVE STARS !!!Read more
recipe Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Kallista phoenix, AZ 10-05-2009
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Mmmm!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

A great recipe! I add my basil at the end, as a garnish it's prettier. And using whole milk mozzarella really gives this... great flavor. For a twist, I use different heirloom tomatoes. It gives a beautiful color!Read more
recipe Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Melissa Rexburg, ID 05-27-2009
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Felt like I was in Italy again
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Tastes delicious and authentic. If you pre-make a bunch of crusts and freeze the extras, this is a simple meal to pull... together last minute.Read more
recipe Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Tara Odessa, FL 05-18-2009
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DELICIOUS!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this last week and it was yummy!!! My 2yr old son loved it as well. Instead of making the pizza crust, I used Bobolli... (hope it spelled it right) the store bought crust and came out delicious!! Will definitlly be putting this in the recipe book!!!! I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. Thanks Giada :)Read more
recipe Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Jennifer Chicago, IL 05-17-2009
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Our New Favorite!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

So easy and such a great recipe! We've made it several times over. I am a horrible cook, but this is easy enough for me to... make! I recommend using Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough (you can find it in the refrigerated section with other Pillsbury rolls products at the grocery store). Read more
recipe Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Deb Richmond, VA 05-17-2009
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Super Good and So Easy to Make
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

One of the best pizzas we have ever had. I will be making this one quite often!