A round crispy thin-crust pizza with a glorious spread of reds from San Marzano sauce, whites from fresh mozzarella, and greens from basil, topped by concentric circles of cherry tomatoes. Patches of golden melted cheese add a hint of color. The edges have a toasted, brown rim.

Iconic Pizza al Forno

Name: Iconic Pizza al Forno
Prep time: 75 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 500 grams for pizza dough; Dry yeast, 1 packet about 7 grams; Warm water, 325 mL for pizza dough; Olive oil, 2 tablespoons extra for drizzling; Salt, 2 teaspoons divided; Sugar, 1 teaspoon; San Marzano tomatoes, 1 can blended; Fresh mozzarella cheese, 200 grams sliced; Parmigiano Reggiano, 50 grams grated; Fresh basil leaves, A handful; Cherry tomatoes, 12 sliced in half

Category Main Course

Prep 75 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Italian

Technique Baking

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: February 09, 2026

This Pizza al Forno, igniting the flavors of Italy in every bite, stands out with its artisanal from-scratch crust, vibrant San Marzano tomato-based sauce and combination of fresh cheeses. On this special occasion, we're garnish the pizza with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes arranged in a radiating pattern to make it truly iconic and visually stunning.

Ingredients (for 4)

All-purpose flour - 500 grams - for pizza dough
Dry yeast - 1 packet - about 7 grams
Warm water - 325 mL - for pizza dough
Olive oil - 2 tablespoons - extra for drizzling
Salt - 2 teaspoons - divided
Sugar - 1 teaspoon
San marzano tomatoes - 1 can - blended
Fresh mozzarella cheese - 200 grams - sliced
Parmigiano reggiano - 50 grams - grated
Fresh basil leaves - A handful
Cherry tomatoes - 12 - sliced in half

Preparation

Step 1 - 🥣💦🕔

In a large bowl, dissolve 1 packet of dry yeast in 325 mL of warm water, add 1 teaspoon of sugar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Step 2 - 🍚🧂🍶🤲

Stir in 500 grams of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the yeast mixture. Bring together with your hands to form a dough and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Step 3 - ⏳🍞↗️

Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it and allow it to rest for 1 hour to rise.
Step 4 - 🔥🕰️

Preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C).
Step 5 - 🚜🍞🍕

On a floured surface, roll out the dough and place it onto a pizza stone or large baking sheet.
Step 6 - 🍅🧀🧂

Spread 1 can of blended San Marzano tomatoes over the base, sprinkle remaining salt, add 200 grams of sliced fresh mozzarella cheese and 50 grams of grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Step 7 - 🍕⏱️🌡️

Bake the pizza for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.
Step 8 - 🔪🌿🍅

Remove pizza from the oven, arrange a handful of fresh basil leaves and 12 halved cherry tomatoes on top in a radiating pattern. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil, slice, and serve.

Additional

For a spicy twist, add red pepper flakes before baking. This recipe can be a fun activity for kids, they'll enjoy kneading dough and arranging toppings. Did you know? Pizza al Forno means baked pizza, we keep tradition in its name!