This straightforward caprese pizza recipe combines contemporary mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and aromatic basil for an genuine Italian taste. Prepared very quickly with my foolproof pizza dough suggestions!
Who doesn’t love an excellent caprese salad? I even have eaten one on the island of Capri in Italy on our honeymoon, which was a defining life second for positive! This tomato and contemporary mozzarella salad has gotten very fashionable right here within the US, so I believed—why not take all these scrumptious flavors and put them on a pizza?
After over a decade of pizza analysis and recipe testing, I’ve discovered that this dough and sauce mixture is constantly unimaginable. It’s nice for dinner events and even weeknight dinners, particularly in case you make a cheater pita pizza or naan pizza!
Ideas for good caprese pizza
- Use a pizza stone: I can’t stress sufficient the distinction a correctly preheated pizza stone makes. I preheat mine to 500°F for no less than half-hour earlier than baking. This creates that crispy backside crust that’s important for genuine pizza.
- Excellent your sauce sport: For caprese pizza, I maintain my selfmade pizza sauce easy—simply good canned tomatoes, garlic, and oregano.
- Grasp the dough: Whether or not you utilize my finest pizza dough, skinny crust pizza dough, or pizza oven dough, the secret is letting it relaxation correctly. That 45-minute relaxation time is what creates the right texture and makes the dough straightforward to stretch.
- Topping timing: Add the cherry tomatoes and basil after baking. This prevents the basil from turning black and retains the tomatoes from releasing an excessive amount of moisture onto the crispy crust.
Balsamic glaze topping
Whereas a traditional Italian caprese salad is simply mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil, the American model is commonly topped with a balsamic discount glaze. I added it to this caprese pizza and it positively takes the pie up a notch! You can also make selfmade balsamic discount, however I prefer to buy a bottle to make it a little bit simpler.
Variation concepts I really like
Whereas traditional caprese pizza is perfection by itself, I’ve experimented with a number of variations that my household adores:
- Burrata caprese: Change half the contemporary mozzarella with torn items of burrata cheese for an excellent creamier expertise! See my favourite burrata pizza for extra.
- Prosciutto: For a heartier model, you possibly can add skinny slices of prosciutto after baking. It’s nice with the balsamic discount!
- Arugula: Generally I add a handful of contemporary arugula together with the basil for a peppery chunk that cuts by way of the richness (like in my arugula pizza).
- Heirloom tomatoes: You may also use skinny slices of bigger heirloom tomatoes for various textures and flavors.
Serving recommendations to make it a meal
Caprese pizza is substantial sufficient to function a primary course, however I really like pairing it with complementary sides that improve the Italian theme:
Begin with antipasti: Serve with an antipasto platter that includes marinated olives, cured meats, and cheeses.
Add a salad: A easy arugula salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil supplies a pleasant peppery distinction to the wealthy pizza.
For entertaining: Minimize into smaller items and function an appetizer alongside different Italian appetizers like bruschetta or caprese skewers.
Storage and reheating suggestions
Caprese pizza is at all times finest contemporary from the oven, however you possibly can retailer any leftover pizza within the fridge for as much as 3 days in an hermetic container.
For reheating, keep away from the microwave and use one in every of these strategies as a substitute:
Oven: Reheat at 350°F for 5-7 minutes till the cheese is bubbly once more.
Skillet: Warmth a skillet over medium-low warmth, add the pizza slice, cowl, and warmth for 2-3 minutes till warmed by way of.
Air fryer: Add a single piece to an air fryer and air fry for a ew minutes till crispy.
Dietary notes
This caprese pizza recipe is vegetarian.
Caprese Pizza
- Make the pizza dough: Observe the Finest Pizza Dough, Skinny Crust Pizza Dough, or Pizza Oven Dough recipes to arrange the dough. (This takes about quarter-hour to make and 45 minutes to relaxation.)
- Place a pizza stone within the oven and preheat to 500°F or preheat your pizza oven.
- Make the pizza sauce: Make the Do-it-yourself Pizza Sauce. (You’ll use about ⅓ cup for the pizza; reserve the remaining sauce and refrigerate for as much as 1 week.)
- Bake the pizza: When the oven is prepared, mud a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (Should you don’t have a pizza peel, you should utilize a rimless baking sheet or the again of a rimmed baking sheet, however a pizza peel is nicely definitely worth the funding!)
- Stretch the dough right into a circle, then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
- Unfold a skinny layer of the pizza sauce over the dough.
- Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and grate on the contemporary mozzarella, then high with a couple of pinches of kosher salt.
- Use the pizza peel to rigorously switch the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza till the cheese and crust are properly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes within the oven or 1 to 2 minutes in a pizza oven.
- Permit the pizza to chill for a minute or two earlier than including the cherry tomatoes and basil on high (complete leaves, frivolously torn, or thinly sliced). Drizzle with balsamic discount, slice into items, and serve instantly.