Star Pizza

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Dough base

1. 1
   Mix the flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl.

   Bowl
2. 2
   Add the lukewarm water and olive oil and Knead about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pliable and doesn't stick to your hands.

   ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer

   💡For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
3. 3
   Cover and Let rise about an hour in a warm place, until the dough doubles in size.

   ⚙ ProofingPlastic wraporKitchen towel

   💡Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot. The dough is ready when it has doubled, and a gentle finger press leaves a dent that fills back slowly; if it springs right back, wait longer.

For the Tomato sauce

1. 4
   In a bowl, mix the tomatoes with the salt. Don't cook it: the sauce cooks on the pizza in the oven.

   Bowl

To assemble

1. 5
   Divide the dough into two tight balls and let rise for another 2 hours in a covered tray.

   Baking sheet
2. 6
   Transfer the ricotta to a piping bag.

   Piping bag
3. 7
   Heat the oven with a baking stone to the maximum temperature for at least 45 minutes, and for the last ten minutes also turn on the top broiler.

   OvenBaking stone (pizza stone)
4. 8
   Stretch a ball of dough by hand into a round of 30 centimeters. Pipe eight mounds of the ricotta at equal intervals, about two centimeters from the edge.

   Piping bag
5. 9
   Make a short cut from the edge inward between every two mounds. Fold each section of the edge over the ricotta and pinch, so you get a star with eight closed points.

   Knife
6. 10
   Spread half the sauce in the center, sprinkle half of the mozzarella and cherry tomatoes and drizzle with a little of the olive oil.
7. 11
   Slide onto the stone and bake for 6–8 minutes, until the edges are puffed and spotted with dark blisters and the mozzarella has melted.

   OvenBaking stone (pizza stone)
8. 12
   Lay the basil leaves on the hot pizza and make the second pizza.