Margherita Pizza

Ingredients 

Pizza dough

• 1½ cups refined flour (maida)
• 5 grams fresh yeast
• 2 tablespoons castor sugar (caster sugar)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Polenta for dusting 
• Oil to grease 

Pizza sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons garlic, finely chopped
• 1½ cups fresh tomato puree
• Salt to taste 
• 1 tablespoon castor sugar (caster sugar)
• 3-4 basil leaves, chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
• Mozzarella cheese grated as required 
• A few basil leaves
• Salt to taste 
• Dried mixed herbs as required 

Method

1. Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan.
2. Take fresh yeast and sugar in a bowl, add ¼ cup water, mix well and set aside to activate.
3. Add garlic to the pan and sauté till fragrant, add tomato puree and mix well. Add salt, mix well and cook till the raw smell of tomatoes disappears and oil separates.
4. To make the pizza dough, add refined flour and olive oil to the yeast mixture and knead to a soft dough, adding water as required. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and set aside in a warm place till it doubles in size.
5. Add castor sugar to the pan. Chop the basil leaves and add to the pan. Add tomato ketchup, mix well and cook for 1 minute. Switch off the heat and set aside to cool.
6. Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C
7. Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape them into balls. Dust the worktop with some polenta and some refined flour. Keep one ball on it and roll it out into a thick disc.
8. Grease a baking tray with some oil and transfer the rolled-out pizza base to it. Dork the pizza dough with a fork. Keep the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 5-7 minutes.
9. Bring the tray out of the oven and brush the base with a little olive oil. Spread the pizza sauce evenly all over the base.
10. Spread a generous layer of mozzarella cheese. Tear a few basil leaves and sprinkle all over the top. Sprinkle some salt and mixed herbs. Keep the tray back in the hot oven and bake at 180˚C for 15 minutes.
11. Bring the tray out of the oven, cut the pizza into wedges, arrange them on a serving plate and serve hot.