Description
A refreshing and unique pizza featuring lemon, fresh mozzarella, and basil for a delightful flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 3/4 cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. In a separate small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
- Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the flour mixture. Stir until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface to your desired thickness. Transfer it to a pizza peel or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Spread the ricotta cheese evenly over the dough, then layer the fresh mozzarella slices on top.
- Drizzle the lemon juice over the pizza and sprinkle the lemon zest, chopped basil, salt, and pepper evenly.
- Carefully transfer the pizza to the preheated oven (or onto the pizza stone) and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with red pepper flakes if desired before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a crispy crust, pre-bake the dough for 5 minutes before adding toppings.
- You can also add grilled chicken or arugula for extra flavor and texture.
- For a twist, try using goat cheese instead of ricotta for a tangy taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 25mg