Caprese Pizza Recipe
User Reviews
5
Caprese Pizza Recipe
Description
The Caprese Pizza Recipe features a pizza dough base spread thinly with a basil and garlic mixture made in a food processor. Roasted cherry tomatoes, seasoned simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper, are scattered over the basil layer along with torn pieces of fresh mozzarella cheese. Roasting the tomatoes before baking softens them and concentrates their natural flavors while reducing excess moisture that could make the pizza soggy. The pizza is baked at a high 450°F temperature on the top oven rack until the edges develop a crisp, golden crust and the cheese melts and bubbles.
This pizza boasts bright, fresh layered flavors: the herbaceous basil paste, the sweet roasted tomatoes, and the creamy mozzarella all melded on a lightly oiled, slightly salted crust. A drizzle of balsamic reduction after baking adds complementary acidity and sweetness if desired.
Caprese Pizza is well-suited for an easy weekend meal or an informal gathering. It can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature and pairs nicely with a simple green salad or light side dishes. Leftover slices reheat well in a low oven to preserve crispness.
Roasting the tomatoes is recommended to prevent sogginess by releasing some of their juice, which can be reserved for salad dressings. Cooking times depend on oven temperature and size of the pizza; watch for golden edges and melted cheese as doneness cues. The recipe accepts store-bought pizza dough and can be baked without a pizza pan on a cookie sheet if needed.
Ingredients
For The Tomatoes:
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomato halved (heirloom tomatoes or Roma tomatoes would also work
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
For The Basil Mixture:
- ¾ cup basil loosely packed - more to use as a garnish at the end, fresh leaves
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For The Pizza:
- 1 lb. pizza dough thawed if frozen, store-bought
- 8 oz. mozzarella cheese 227 grams, fresh, cut/torn into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Balsamic reduction optional
Instructions
- Place the oven rack at the very top setting and preheat the oven to 450 F (232C) degrees.
- Place tomatoes on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Give them a toss. Roast until tomatoes start to burst, 9-10 minutes. Set aside. Do not turn the oven off.
- Place a sheet pan or a pizza stone on the top shelf in your oven.
- While the tomatoes are roasting make the basil mixture. To do so, place basil, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to break it into smaller pieces. While the machine is running, drizzle it with olive oil. You may have to scrape the sides with a spatula a few times to turn it into a paste.
- Roll the pizza dough into a 14.5-inch circle. Spread it evenly with the basil mixture leaving an inch on the sides. The basil sauce will be a very thin layer. Scatter the roasted tomatoes and mozzarella pieces on top. Lightly brush the sides with olive oil.
- Using a pizza peel or the back of a sheet pan, carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated sheet pan or pizza stone. Bake 12-14 minutes or until the cheese is totally melted and the sides turned golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle it with fresh basil. Let it rest for a few minutes, cut into 8 slices, drizzle with the balsamic reduction (if using), and enjoy.
Notes
- Roast tomatoes before using to reduce moisture and avoid soggy pizza crust; you can reserve excess tomato juices for salad dressings.
- Adjust baking time based on oven temperature; look for golden brown edges and melted cheese as doneness indicators.
- If you lack a pizza pan, a large cookie sheet works well for baking.
- Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheated in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes per slice.
- Optionally, drizzle balsamic reduction over the baked pizza to add sweetness and acidity.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8slices
Amount Per Serving
Calories 267 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 267kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 22mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 809mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 94mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 447IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 152mg | 15% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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