HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! This post is for all you pizza lovers out there. Here, you find the secrets to make from scratch the most famous Italian specialty. Learn how to create Her Majesty, the Queen of the kitchen!
FROM THE NAPOLITAN COURT TO YOUR TABLE
You may not know that the popular pizza Margherita has a very aristocratic origin. It was invented in the beautiful city of Napoli (Naples) in the South of Italy. It was a tribute to Margherita of Savoy Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy, wife of King Umberto I. In 1889 she visited Naples and, according to the legend, Chef Raffaele Esposito created Pizza Margherita for the Queen, celebrating the colors of the Italian flag (red, tomato; white, mozzarella; and green, basil). Pizza arrived in the US years later, around the 1900 thanks to the Italian immigrants in New York. Here, in 1905 Gennaro Lombardi – an immigrant from Naples - opened the first pizzeria.
THE DOUGH, L’IMPASTO
First of all, you need to work on your dough. For 6 people you will need: 2lb Italian "00" flour or all-purpose flour 1oz fresh yeast, water, salt. Choose a flat working surface. It could be a wooden or marble top. Create a “mountain” with the flour, then add in the yeast into the center of the mound plus 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 cups of warm water.
NOW YOU WILL NEED STRENGTH AND PATIENCE!
Knead the mixture with your hands. After 15 minutes, you will see the miracle: a homogeneous and smooth dough! Create a ball with the doug. Cover your creation with a lid or kitchen towel and let it rest for 4 hours at room temperature. If you are lucky, the “impasto sarà cresciuto,” - the dough - will be raised and you can then divide it into 6 smaller balls. Cover them with a plastic wrap and wait half an hour.
HAVE FUN WITH THE DRESSING
Flatten the dough using your fingers and create the base of your pizza. Generously spread on a nice tomato sauce. We recommend you Agromonte sauce…it is simply delicious and easy to use. Sprinkle your pizza with cubes of mozzarella. Your wonderful Margherita is ready for the oven. Preheat your oven to anywhere between 450° and 480° F. At these temperatures, the pizza should be done in 8 minutes, but it always depends on the oven. Once your pizza is crisp and golden brown, it is ready to go! Garnish with basil and extra virgin olive oil.
