Our full recipe guide on how to make Neapolitan Pizza one of the most popular dishes in Italy.
Napolitan or Neapolitan pizza is a type of pizza that originated in Naples, Italy. Neapolitan pizza is known for its simple and fresh ingredients: a basic dough, raw tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil. Here’s how you can make authentic Neapolitan pizza at home.
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How to Make Neapolitan Pizza
Neapolitan Pizza Recipe Ingredients
For the Dough:
4 cups (500g) of ’00’ flour (Italian milled flour that’s finely ground)
1 1/2 cups (350ml) of water (temperature around 20°C or 68°F)
2 teaspoons (10g) of salt
1/2 teaspoon (2g) of fresh yeast
For the Toppings:
San Marzano tomatoes, crushed (you can use canned ones)
Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced or torn into small pieces
Fresh basil leaves
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt
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Step By Step How to Make
- Make the Dough
Dissolve the fresh yeast in the water. In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour and salt. Gradually add the water and yeast mixture to the flour while mixing. This can be done with your hands or with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a bowl and cover it with a damp cloth. Let it rise for about 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
- Prepare the Dough for Baking
After the first rise, punch the dough down and divide it into 4 equal parts. Shape each piece into a ball and let them rise for another hour on a floured surface, covered.
- Prepare the Toppings
Hand crush the San Marzano tomatoes, or blend them slightly with a hand blender. Season with a little sea salt. Slice or tear the mozzarella into small pieces.
- Assemble the Pizza
Preheat your oven with the pizza stone or steel inside to 450-500°F (230-260°C), or as high as it will go, for at least an hour. Take one ball of dough and flatten it on a floured surface. Use your hands to stretch the dough into a round shape, about 10-12 inches in diameter.
Do not use a rolling pin as it will deflate the dough. Spoon a thin layer of tomato sauce over the base. Add a few pieces of mozzarella and a few basil leaves. Drizzle with a little olive oil.
- Bake the Pizza
Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone using a pizza peel. Bake for about 5-7 minutes, or until the crust is puffed, golden, and the cheese is bubbly and slightly charred. Halfway through baking, rotate the pizza if one side is browning faster than the other.
- Serve
Remove the pizza from the oven, garnish with fresh basil if desired, and drizzle more of olive oil. Serve immediately.
Tips To Make Neapolitan Pizza
Using the right temperature water is crucial. Too hot can kill the yeast, too cold can retard the yeast’s activity. The higher the better, as traditional Neapolitan pizzas are cooked at very high temperatures (up to 900°F) for just a few minutes.
How Many Calories Has A Neapolitan Pizza
Flour (about 250 grams for one pizza) provides roughly 920 calories.
Toppings:
San Marzano Tomato Sauce: About 1/3 cup used per pizza adds around 20 to 30 calories. Fresh Mozzarella is 240 to 320 calories and Olive Oil is 120 calories.
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.