Cheese Lemon Basil Pizza: A Fresh Twist on Classic Italian Comfort Food
A bright, refreshing white pizza featuring creamy cheeses, zesty lemon, and aromatic fresh basil. This gourmet-style pizza brings together simple ingredients for extraordinary flavor that’s perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 90 minutes rising time)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 large pizza (8 slices) or 2 medium pizzas
- Category: Main Dish, Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American, Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 3 ½-4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
For the Toppings:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large lemon (zest and juice)
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, divided
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Black pepper to taste
- Sea salt for finishing
Instructions
- Activate yeast in warm water with sugar; let foam for 5-7 minutes
- Mix in oil, salt, and flour; knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth
- Let dough rise in oiled bowl for 60-90 minutes until doubled
- Preheat oven to 475°F with pizza stone if available
- Infuse 2 tablespoons olive oil with minced garlic
- Stretch dough into 12-inch circle on parchment paper
- Brush with garlic oil, dollop ricotta, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan
- Add half the lemon zest and half the basil
- Bake 12-15 minutes until golden and bubbling
- Remove from oven, drizzle with lemon juice
- Top with remaining basil, lemon zest, and sea salt
- Let rest 3-4 minutes before slicing
Notes
- Dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days
- Recipe makes two 12-inch pizzas; freeze extra dough for later
- Don’t add lemon juice before baking – always after for fresh flavor
- Use fresh basil only; dried basil won’t work in this recipe
- Pizza stone gives best crust, but baking sheet works fine
Find it online: https://recipya.com/cheese-lemon-basil-pizza-recipe-best-easy/