Ok so let’s talk about Margherita pizza. Honestly its like, one of the most simple pizzas out there but also one of the best. It’s not overloaded with toppings like meat lovers or supreme, but that’s the whole point. It’s all about the few ingredients – tomato, mozzarella, basil – just coming together perfectly. If you’ve never tried a real Margherita pizza, you’re missing out tbh.
Where Did Margherita Pizza Even Come From?
So apparently the Margherita pizza comes from Italy (obvs) and there’s this old story about it. Back in like 1889 or something, Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples. And this famous pizza guy – I think his name was Raffaele Esposito or something – made a pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colors of the Italian flag (red, white and green). The queen liked it a lot and they named the pizza after her.
Idk if it’s 100% true but that’s what people say lol.
What’s So Special About It?
A lot of ppl look at Margherita and think it’s boring. But it’s really not. The thing is, because it only has like 3 main ingredients, they all gotta be really good. Like you can’t just use store tomato sauce and plasticy shredded cheese and expect it to be the same.
What makes Margherita pizza good:
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Fresh tomatoes or good tomato sauce – not the sugary stuff
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Fresh mozzarella – like the soft white kind, not that yellow block
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Fresh basil – not dried flakes (pls no)
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A good crust – thin, crispy on the outside, soft inside
And also olive oil. Good olive oil kinda brings it all together.
How To Make It (Kinda)
Ok so not everyone can make a legit Neapolitan pizza at home unless you have like a wood-fired oven or something (which most people don’t, unless you’re fancy lol). But you can still make a decent Margherita at home if you try.
Ingredients:
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Pizza dough (store bought is fine, but homemade is better)
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Tomato sauce (crushed San Marzano tomatoes are )
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Fresh mozzarella
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Fresh basil leaves
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Olive oil
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Salt (just a lil)
Steps (roughly lol):
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Roll out the dough. Don’t make it too thick unless you want a doughy pizza.
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Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce. Not too much or it gets soggy.
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Tear up the mozzarella and put it all over. Don’t overload it.
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Add a few basil leaves. You can put some before baking and some after too.
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Drizzle with olive oil.
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Bake it HOT. Like 450°F or more. The hotter the better.
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Take it out when the crust is brown and cheese is bubbly.
Boom. That’s it. Easy right?
Common Mistakes People Make
Some ppl mess up Margherita pizza by doing too much. Here’s what not to do:
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Too much cheese – it gets greasy and heavy
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Too much sauce – soggy crust, ew
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Bad quality ingredients – it’s a simple pizza so everything gotta be fresh
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Cooking too low – you need high heat for good crust
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Using dried basil – no no no. Fresh only!
Also pineapple does not go on Margherita. Or chicken. Or ranch. Please don’t
Margherita vs Cheese Pizza – Not the Same!
Some people think Margherita is just a regular cheese pizza. It’s really not tho. Cheese pizza usually has shredded mozzarella (sometimes cheddar too??) and tomato sauce that’s cooked or seasoned. Margherita is more fresh, lighter, and kinda fancier. It’s a vibe.
Like cheese pizza is what you order when you’re drunk at 2am. Margherita is what you eat on a patio in Italy with wine. Big difference lol.
How to Make It Fancy (If You Want)
Even tho Margherita is all about being simple, you can level it up a bit if you want:
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Use buffalo mozzarella – it’s creamier
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Add some sea salt flakes on top
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Bake on a pizza stone if you got one – makes crust better
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Drizzle a bit of balsamic glaze after baking (controversial but some ppl love it)
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Add chili flakes or garlic oil if you like a lil kick
But don’t go too crazy. Keep it classy.
Can You Make It Vegan?
Yup! You can make a vegan Margherita too. Just use vegan mozzarella (some brands are actually not bad now) and make sure your crust doesn’t have dairy (most don’t anyway). The rest is already vegan.
It won’t taste exactly like the original but still good if you’re into plant-based stuff.
What to Eat With It?
Honestly Margherita pizza is good on it’s own but if you’re doing a lil party or dinner or something, you can add stuff like:
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A simple salad (arugula, lemon, olive oil – done)
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Some olives or antipasto
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Wine (red or white, both work tbh)
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Maybe tiramisu for dessert?
Don’t serve it with fries or ranch dressing tho. That’s just… wrong
Final Thoughts
Margherita pizza might look basic but it’s actually kind of perfect the way it is. It’s got history, flavor, and that Italian charm. Whether you eat it in Naples from a wood oven or make a homemade one in your tiny kitchen, it hits the spot if it’s done right.
Just remember: simple is key. Quality over quantity. Fresh over fancy. And don’t forget the basil!