Fresh Tomato Pizza Recipes

PIZZA WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Position 1 oven rack in the center and the second rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Sprinkle the cornmeal over 2 rimless baking sheets. Roll out each piece of Pizza Dough into a 10 to 11-inch-diameter round. Transfer 1 dough to each prepared baking sheet.
• Drizzle 2 teaspoons of oil over each Pizza Dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the Pizza Dough, dividing equaling and leaving a 1-inch border around each pizza. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer over the cheese. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Arrange basil leaves on top, drizzle with a little more olive oil and sprinkle garlic all over. Bake the pizzas until the crusts are crisp and brown on the bottom and the cheese is melted on top, about 15 minutes. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of oil over each pizza. Sprinkle with basil for garnish and salt. Cut the pizza into wedges and serve immediately.
• Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm draft-free area until the dough doubles in volume, about 1 hour. Punch the down dough and divide into 2 equal balls. (The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.)

TOMATO PIZZA

Steps:

• Place tomato slices in a circle on crust, overlapping slightly until crust is completely covered. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with olives if desired, green pepper and onion. Sprinkle with basil. , Cover with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

FRESH TOMATO PIZZAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush 2 baking sheets with oil; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out each piece into a 6-inch disk about 1/4 inch thick.
• Transfer disks to oiled baking sheets. Brush with oil, and sprinkle with salt. Top each disk with a thin layer of tomato slices.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over each disk. Top each with a few more tomato slices, and sprinkle with another tablespoon cheese. Sprinkle each pizza with 1/2 teaspoon oregano.
• Bake until crusts are golden, about 20 minutes. Drizzle pizzas with extra-virgin olive oil before serving, if desired.

FRESH TOMATO PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Halve the tomatoes lengthwise through the stems. Squeeze the tomatoes over a bowl or sink to remove the seeds and watery centers. Chop the remaining tomato flesh roughly and transfer to a food processor. Add the oil, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt and some pepper and pulse until mostly pureed with some small chunks. Pour into a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl and let some of the watery liquid drain, shaking gently for about 30 seconds to help it out. Pour the tomato sauce into another bowl or jar and use immediately or refrigerate up to 1 day.

RICOTTA PIZZA WITH FRESH AND ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Combine ricotta and Parmesan, season with salt and pepper, and stir in egg. On a baking sheet, drizzle pizza dough with 2 tablespoons oil and stretch or roll into a 16-inch-long oval. Spread ricotta mixture on dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, toss cherry tomatoes with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake cherry tomatoes on bottom rack and pizza on top rack until tomatoes are soft and skins have burst, 15 minutes. Remove tomatoes and bake pizza until crust is deep golden brown, about 8 minutes more. Toss cherry tomatoes with sliced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Transfer pizza to a cutting board and top with tomato mixture and oregano.

PIZZA SAUCE WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut an "x" in the bottom of each tomato. Fill a large mixing bowl with ice water.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add tomatoes to the boiling water until skins start to curl, about 30 seconds. Remove tomatoes from the boiling water and submerge in the bowl of ice water. When tomatoes have cooled enough to handle, remove from ice water. Remove and discard tomato skins; transfer tomatoes to a blender.
• Blend tomatoes until liquefied, and transfer to a medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer over medium heat until sauce reduces to desired consistency, 60 to 90 minutes.
• Puree sauce with an immersion blender until smooth. Use sauce immediately, or store in the refrigerator overnight to allow flavors to develop.

FRESH TOMATO BASIL PIZZA

Steps:

• Unroll crescent dough into one long rectangle. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan; seal seams and perforations. Bake at 375° for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, saute garlic and basil in oil for 1 minute. , Arrange half of the provolone cheese over the crust. Layer with half of the tomatoes, basil mixture, Parmesan cheese and pepper. Repeat layers. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until cheese is melted.

SKINNY FRESH MOZZARELLA AND TOMATO PIZZA

Steps:

• In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in half of the flour, the salt, sugar and 1 teaspoon oil. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening. Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover, let rise in warm place 20 minutes. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 48 hours. (If dough should double in size during refrigeration, gently push fist into dough to deflate.
• Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 425°F. Grease cookie sheet or 12-inch pizza pan with oil. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Pat dough into 12-inch round on cookie sheet or pat in pizza pan using floured fingers. Press dough from center to edge so edge is slightly thicker than center.
• Cut cheese into 1/4-inch slices. Place cheese on dough to within 1/2 inch of edge. Arrange tomatoes on cheese. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons of the basil, the oregano and capers. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons basil.

FRESH TOMATO BASIL CRESCENT PIZZA

Steps:

• Unroll crescent dough into one long rectangle and press into an ungreased 9x13 baking pan.
• Seal seams and perforations and bake at 375° for 14 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute garlic and basil in oil over low heat just until garlic softens - but do not brown the garlic.
• Sprinkle half of mozzarella over the crust.
• Place sliced tomatoes over cheese and drizzle oil mixture over.
• Top with rest of mozzarella, sprinkle with Parmesan, Italian seasoning and black pepper.
• Bake for 10 to 14 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

5-MINUTE NO-COOK FRESH TOMATO PIZZA SAUCE

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to the pitcher of a blender. Blend until completely pureed. Add additional salt and pepper to taste (I usually go with a full teaspoon salt). Spread on pizza crust; add toppings and bake as desired.
• If you don't have a blender, chop the fresh tomatoes and finely mince the garlic, then add them along with the other ingredients to a bowl. Stir until combined, taste, and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
• Keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

GRANDMA-STYLE PIZZA

Steps:

• Drain one 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes and pulse tomatoes with 2 anchovies, 2 garlic cloves, 6 tablespoons olive oil, and 1/4 cup basil leaves in a food processor or blender until mostly smooth (some texture is okay); season with salt and pepper.
• Put It All Together:
• A classic Grandma-just sauce and mozzarella-flips the usual script: Add cheese before sauce. Master this basic pie and you're ready to improvise (see below for ideas).
• Classic Mozzarella Pie:
• Place a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 525° or as high as oven will go.
• Once Grandma-Style Pizza Dough has risen on baking sheet, top with 12 ounces fresh mozzarella, grated, and dot pie with 1 1/2 cups Fresh Tomato Pizza Sauce. Bake pie until golden brown and crisp on bottom and sides, 20-30 minutes.