The World's Best Pizza Margherita - Chef Recipe by Johnny Di Francesco

Ingredients

The classic and delicious Pizza Margherita. This is the recipe I used when competing at the Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (Pizza World Championship) which was held in Parma, Italy. It was there and for this pizza that I was awarded the title of world's top Margherita Pizza!

Pizza Dough (Makes 10-12 bases):

1.7 kg (4 lb) flour (00 5 Stagioni Pizza Napoletana flour with a W280–330 )
1 L (2 pints) water
50 g (2 oz) fine sea salt
1–3 g fresh yeast

Pizza:

220 g (8 oz) pizza dough
60 g (2½ oz) San Marzano tomatoes, peeled and crushed
50 g (2 oz) Buffalo Mozzarella, sliced
4 fresh basil leaves
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Method

Pizza Dough:

Weigh out all the ingredients.

Using a dough mixer mix together the water and the salt. If you don’t have a machine mixer this recipe works just as well by hand, simply follow the same process as instructed below but knead by hand.

Start the dough mixer and then add 20% of the flour and mix.

Mix for 5 minutes, then add the yeast. Gradually add the remaining flour and allow to combine.

Once the dough has combined and seems smooth, stop the mixer, remove the dough and put aside to rest, cover with a cloth.

Total mixing time, approximately 20 minutes. Final Dough temperature, 23–24°C (73–74°F).

Allow the dough to rest for approximately 2 hours, covered well at a temperature of
+20°C/68°F.

Portion into desired dough size.

Round each dough piece into dough balls.

Place the dough balls into a sealed container, allow them to rest and rise naturally in a room no warmer than 16–18°C (60–64°F). Allow the dough to rest between 8-12 hours.

For the best cooking results:

Domestic Oven: pre-heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Wood Fire Oven: 90 seconds at 400°C (752°F).

Pizza:

Roll out the pizza dough on to a baking tray or bench for stone cooking.

Spread the San Marzano tomatoes over the dough.

Top with the Buffalo Mozzarella, place four basil leaves on top and drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil.

Bake for 10 minutes at 250°C- 280°C (500-536°F) on a domestic oven, cook for 90 seconds in a wood fire oven at 400°C (752°F).

Credits: World's Best Pizza by Johnny Di Franceso published by New Holland Publishers, RRP $40.

Photo Credits: World's Best Pizza by Johnny Di Franceso published by New Holland Publishers, RRP $40.