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Pizza Napoletana
Pizza Napoletana is a traditional Italian recipe (from Naples) for the classic and original pizza made from a bread base, tomato-based topping, Mozzarella cheese and basil leaves. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Italian dish of: Pizza Napoletana.
prep time
15 minutes
cook time
10 minutes
Total Time:
25 minutes
Additional Time:
(+60 minutes proving)
Serves:
4–8
Rating: 
Tags : Bread RecipesVegetable RecipesCheese RecipesBaking RecipesItaly Recipes
This is the original modern pizza, the fore-runner of all modern pizzas and is also known as the
Pizza alla Margherita. In origin, pizza is a simple, peasant food. A flat disc of bread topped with a tomato-based sauce with cheese and basil. As far as we can tell the first pizzeria (called Port 'Alba) opened in Naples in 1830 and is still in business today as the
Antica Pizzeria Port 'Alba.
According to legend the Pizza Napoletana (
Piza alla Margherita) was crated by Raffaele Esposito at his pizzeria.
Pietro il Pizzaiolo on the occasion of the visit of Queen Margherita of Savoy and her husband King Umberto I, to Naples in 1889. The ingredients were chosen because they represent the colours of the Italian flag and the pizza was reputedly sent to her at her residence in the Capodimonte Park in Naples (which might also mark this occasion as that of the first pizza delivery!).
For a pizza to be considered a true Neapolitan pizza the dough must be made with Neapolitan wheat flour and baked for 60 to 90 seconds in a wood-fired brick oven at 485°C. The pizza must not exceed 35 cm in diameter or be more than a third of a cm thick at the centre. The toppings must be locally produced. Also, to be a true Neapolitan pizza the Mozzarella must be
fiordilatte (ie cow's milk Mozzarella).
Method:
Turn the dough onto a lightly-floured work surface and roll into a 25cm diameter circle. Transfer to a greased baking tray then using your thumb and forefinger roll the edges of the pastry to form a rim.
Cover and set aside in a warm spot to raise for 10 minutes. Spread the tomato sauce over the surface of the pizza then arrange the cheese on top before scattering the basil leaves over everything. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top then season with salt and black pepper.
Place in an oven pre-heated to 200°C and bake for about 18 minutes, or until the edges of the base are golden and crisp. Serve immediately.
