Homemade Fresh Tomato Pizza
There’s nothing like Homemade Pizza, especially when it is made with fresh tomatoes, leave it simple or add a couple of your favourite toppings, of course don’t forget some shredded mozzarella cheese! This delicious pizza can be made with homemade pizza dough or even store bought.
The best pizza I ever had was visiting my mother-in-law’s family in Frosinone. Whenever we go there, we usually stop by at one uncle’s house for lunch and then the other uncle for dinner. Those days always end up being the best ones for us! I have many great and delicious memories, from Mushroom Fettuccine, to a refreshing Limoncello, to a tasty fruit salad.
We spend it with great people, sipping wine, indulging in delicious tasty food alla “casareccia” (which in Italian means “homemade”) and by the time we finish eating we realize how late it is and have to get back into the car and drive home.
So this one Sunday, when we arrived at Uncle #2 for dinner, the wood-burning stove was going and that could mean only one thing, that something amazing was being prepared. And trust me nothing like pizza made in a wood burning stove. We don’t have one but the pizza turned out pretty darn good anyway!
Recipe ingredients
- Pizza dough – homemade or store bought
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Oregano
- Fresh basil chopped
- Salt
- Olive oil
- Mozzarella – firm mozzarella shredded (manually not in a bag)
Additional Toppings
When I make homemade pizza I like to add some Italian sausage, I remove the casings and top the pieces on the pizza, sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and or black olives. Your choices are endless. Sometimes I will sautee the veggies in a little olive oil before topping the pizza and then baking.
How to make a Fresh Tomato Pizza
If using store bought dough, then knead the dough back into a ball, cover the dough with a towel (cotton) and let it rest for 30 minutes. If using homemade dough, then follow the directions in the recipe.
In a medium bowl add the halved grape or cherry or cut up roma tomatoes add the oil, oregano, salt and chopped fresh basil, gently mix together.
Top the pizza dough with the tomato mixture, add some extras if desired (I added chopped Italian sausages (casing removed).
Bake until the crust is cooked, golden brown and the cheese is golden and melted or bake for about 10 minutes then, remove from the oven and top with the shredded mozzarella.
Return to oven and continue to bake until the cheese has melted. Slice and enjoy.
Tips for making the best pizza
- First thing choose your dough, you can make your own which is the best if you have time, and this Best Pizza Dough is our favourite or this Easy Pizza Dough comes in a very close second.
- But if time is short and you want pizza, store bought or even your favourite bakery or pizzeria may have their own dough that they sell.
- The best way to make it Homemade with store bought dough I found is to knead it back into a ball, cover it with a towel and let it rest for 30 minutes, then form into your pans.
- For the fresh tomato topping I like to use either Roma or grape tomatoes, if you use Roma tomatoes then I usually remove the seeds and chop them up, if I use grape or cherry tomatoes I just cut them in half and they are ready to use.
- Use as many fresh ingredients as possible, fresh basil, olive oil, a little oregano and salt.
My Mother-in-law would also bake the pizza with the tomato topping first and when the dough was baked add the shredded mozzarella and bake for a few more minutes or until the cheese has melted. Now I just add the cheese when I bake it, we tend to prefer the cheese a bit browned on top.
If you do add the cheese after but you want to add pieces of sausage or other veggies add them with the tomato topping. Olives on the other hand should be added with the cheese at the end.
More Pizza Recipes you may enjoy!
- Easy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
- Italian Pizza Bianca / White
- Italian Sausage Artichoke Cheese Pizza
- Homemade Fresh Veggie Calzone
Why do we love fresh tomatoes on a pizza?
I believe a lot has to do with all the fresh ingredients you use. I sometimes use sauce or tomatoes from a can or bottle, (which in the winter has to suffice), but if you have garden fresh or farm fresh tomatoes to use definitely try out this pizza, I am sure you will love it too!
So why not make tonight Pizza Night open a bottle of vino, and enjoy your Homemade Fresh Tomato Pizza. Buon Appetito!
Homemade Fresh Tomato Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 ready made pizza dough or homemade
- 18 grape or cherry tomatoes halved (8-10 Roma tomatoes depending on size)
- 1½ teaspoons oregano
- 4-5 leaves fresh basil chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2½ tablespoons olive oil
- ½-¾a cup firm mozzarella shredded
EXTRA TOPPINGS (just a few suggestions)
- 2 Italian sausages (casing removed)
- 1 medium bell pepper sliced
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 8-10 mushroom sliced
- 8-10 black olives sliced
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425F (250C), drizzle a 14×9.5 inch (37×24 cm) cookie sheet or pizza pan.
- If using store bought dough, then knead the dough back into a ball, cover the dough with a towel (cotton) and let it rest for 30 minutes. If using homemade dough, such as this Best Pizza or this Easy Pizza Recipe then follow the directions.
- In a medium bowl add the halved cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of oil, oregano, salt and chopped fresh basil, gently mix together.
- Top the pizza dough with the tomato mixture (and any extras you wish to add except the olives) and the cheese, bake until the crust is cooked, golden brown (check underneath) and the cheese is golden and melted or bake for about 10 minutes then remove from the oven and top with the shredded mozzarella and olives if adding, return to the oven and continue to bake for another 3 or 4 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove from oven, slice and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Can pizza dough be made a day before?
You definitely can, prepare the dough, place it in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise overnight in the refrigerator, leaving the dough to rise in the fridge from 12-24 hours is considered the best amount of time. Although the dough can remain in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Best pizza dough will easily make 2-3 pizzas, and the easy dough will make a large thick crust pizza.How to store Fresh tomato pizza
Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, it will keep for up to 3-4 days. You can re-heat it in the oven or in the microwave. Be sure not to leave it out at room temperature for more than two hours.Nutrition
Updated from February 16, 2018.
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Thanks Ms Rosemary, I adore food I can make with garden veges. Excellent recipe!
Hi Lauren, thanks so much, so glad you like it. Nothing like food made with fresh garden vegetables! Take care and have a great week!
Thank you so much for this really helpful recipe! The store bought hint about kneading it and letting is rest is a terrific idea. Who knew? I am experienced in the kitchen but I had no idea that the cheese goes on last and then goes back into the oven. Excellent!
Hi Elaine, thanks so much, glad I could help. Have a great week.
Hello Rose ,
When you refer to ” black olives ” , do you mean ,or prefer a particular type of black olives.
I am new to your site , but really have enjoyed the recipes I have tried. Thomas
Hi Thomas, I usually just buy a jar or a can of plain pitted black olives in brine (I slice them myself) although once in awhile I will by some from the deli section. And thank you, glad you enjoy the recipes. Have a great weekend.
Hello Rose , Thank you for your kind response. Thomas
I’d love to try out this type of pizza
Hi, I think you should too, it is really good and so easy, let me know how it turns out.