Heirloom Tomato Margherita Pizza
 
 
A classic margherita pizza made with heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, and buffalo mozzarella.
Yield: 8 slices
Ingredients
For the pizza dough
  • 400 grams (1? cups warm water)
  • 4 grams (1¼ tsp) active dry yeast
  • 500 grams (3?) cup bread flour
  • 15 grams (2½ tsp) fine sea salt
For the pizza toppings
  • 1½ lb heirloom tomatoes, cored and sliced into ¼-inch thick slices
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
  • 12 oz buffalo mozzarella cheese, torn into bits
  • extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • Maldon sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
For the pizza dough
  1. Mix together 350 grams (about 1.5 cups) of the warm water and the yeast in a large bowl. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes or until the yeast begins to grow and bubble, and the water becomes foamy. Add the flour to the water/yeast mixture and stir until it comes together and all of the flour has been incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature for 30-40 minutes.
  2. Next, fold the dough. To do this, wet one of your hands and dig it under the bottom of the dough, scooping it from the side (between the dough and the bowl). Stretch and fold that piece of the dough up and over itself onto the center of the dough. Rotate the bowl a quarter turn and repeat until you have gone 360 degrees and are back where you started. Cover again with plastic wrap and rest for another 30-40 minutes.
  3. Whisk together the salt and the remaining 50 grams (~3 tbsp) warm water. Pour this over the top of the dough. Repeat the stretch-and-fold method above, trying to incorporate as much water as possible into the dough. To do this you will likely need to go around for at least 1-2 more 360 turns and even then some of the water may still rest at the bottom of the bowl. Cover again and rest for 30-40 minutes.
  4. Wet your hand and fold using the above method one last time, doing only one 360 degree turn, this time being more gentle so as not to deflate the bubbles that are starting to form. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 12-36 hours.
  5. When you are ready to make the pizza, let the dough come to room temperature for at least 1 hour before baking.
For the pizza
  1. Heat oven to 500F with a baking steel or pizza stone in the oven if you have one.
  2. Grease a half sheet pan with olive oil and spread the dough until it reaches the edges of the pan, nudging it with your fingers, trying as much as possible not to deflate all of the bubbles.
  3. Arrange the tomatoes over the pizza dough, overlapping them slightly. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and then bake for another 10 minutes, or until puffed and golden on the edges.
  4. Remove the pizza from the oven and scatter the basil and mozzarella on top immediately. Allow to rest for 5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Drizzle on more olive oil and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
Recipe from Mastering Pizza
Recipe by Joanne Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/2020/06/heirloom-tomato-margherita-pizza.html