Description
Homemade garlicky white pizza with mozzarella and ricotta delivers classic Italian comfort straight to dinner tables. Crisp crust, creamy cheeses, and aromatic garlic create a simple yet luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 recipe pizza dough, or 1 to 1 ¼ lbs (0.45 to 0.57 kg) store-bought pizza dough
- 8 oz (226 g) fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (237 ml / 8 oz) whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 oz (28 g) Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 large clove garlic
- 3 small sprigs fresh oregano
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, plus more for garnish
- all-purpose flour, for dusting
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Allow pizza dough to warm to room temperature for effortless stretching and optimal texture.
- Cheese Preparation: Thoroughly drain mozzarella and slice thinly. Blend ricotta with Pecorino Romano, creating a creamy, flavorful mixture.
- Garlic Infusion: Finely chop garlic and combine with olive oil, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes to create an aromatic base. Reserve oregano leaves for final garnish.
- Oven Calibration: For pizza oven, heat to maximum temperature. For standard oven, position baking stone or inverted sheet on middle rack and preheat to 450ºF.
- Dough Transformation: Stretch dough on floured pizza peel or parchment paper into an 11-12 inch circular shape. Generously brush with garlic-infused oil.
- Cheese Arrangement: Distribute mozzarella slices evenly across surface. Strategically place dollops of ricotta mixture, creating rustic cheese landscape.
- Cooking Technique: In pizza oven, bake 2-3 minutes, rotating for even charring. In standard oven, bake 10-12 minutes until edges golden and cheese melts completely.
- Finishing Touch: Remove pizza, transfer to cutting board. Sprinkle fresh oregano leaves and optional red pepper flakes for added zest and visual appeal.
Notes
- Dough Temperature Trick: Let cold pizza dough rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to ensure easy, smooth stretching without tearing.
- Moisture Management: Pat fresh mozzarella completely dry with paper towels to prevent soggy pizza and achieve perfect crispy crust.
- Garlic Oil Pro Tip: Infuse olive oil with freshly chopped garlic, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes at least 15 minutes before using to develop deeper, more complex flavor.
- Baking Surface Secret: Preheat your baking sheet or pizza stone for 30 minutes before cooking to create a crisp, restaurant-style bottom crust with beautiful golden edges.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 395
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 305 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg