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

Authentic Italian pizza with a festive pizza day touch.

Category Main Course

Prep 75 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Italian

Technique Baking

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily recipe · February 09, 2026

A little about this dish

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.

A final fox tip

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!