Neapolitan Pizza Recipe

Neapolitan pizza is a classic dish that originated in Naples, Italy. It's characterized by its thin, crispy crust and simple yet flavorful toppings. Here's a traditional Neapolitan pizza recipe for you:

Ingredients:

For the dough:
- 500g (about 4 cups) Italian 00 flour (or bread flour)
- 325ml (about 1 1/3 cups) lukewarm water
- 7g (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 10g (about 2 teaspoons) salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

For the toppings (Margherita style):
- 250g fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 400g canned San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand (Tomato Sauce Recipe) 
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dough:
- In a small bowl, combine lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture.
- Using a wooden spoon or your hands, mix the ingredients until a dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.

2. Preheat the oven and prepare the toppings:
- Preheat your oven to its highest temperature, typically around 500°F (260°C) or higher if possible. If you have a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat as well.
- While the oven is preheating, prepare the toppings. Crush the San Marzano tomatoes by hand and season with a pinch of salt. Slice the fresh mozzarella cheese and thinly slice the garlic cloves. Tear the fresh basil leaves.

3. Shape the pizza:
- Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and divide it into 2 or 4 equal portions, depending on how large you want your pizzas.
- On a lightly floured surface, shape each portion of dough into a round pizza base, about 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) in diameter. Try to keep the edges slightly thicker than the center.

4. Assemble and bake the pizza:
- Carefully transfer the pizza bases to a lightly floured pizza peel or parchment paper.
- Spread a thin layer of crushed tomatoes over each pizza base, leaving a border around the edges.
- Arrange the sliced mozzarella cheese evenly over the tomato sauce. Scatter the sliced garlic over the cheese.
- Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over the pizzas and season with a pinch of salt.
- Slide the pizzas onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven.

5. Bake the pizza:
- Bake the pizzas in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Keep an eye on the pizzas as baking times may vary depending on your oven's temperature.

6. Finish and serve:
- Once the pizzas are done, remove them from the oven and immediately scatter torn fresh basil leaves over the top.
- Drizzle a little more extra-virgin olive oil over the pizzas, if desired.
- Slice the pizzas and serve hot. Enjoy your authentic Neapolitan pizza!

Feel free to customize your Neapolitan pizza with additional toppings such as pepperoni, mushrooms, or olives according to your preference. Enjoy!