Description
This fresh and flavorful lemon pizza combines a crisp, hand-stretched pizza dough with a bright lemon brine, creamy fresh mozzarella, garlic, parsley, and nutty parmesan cheese. Baked on a hot pizza stone, the pizza features a perfect balance of tangy citrus and savory cheese, making for a unique and refreshing Italian-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 ball Easy pizza dough (or store-bought dough)
Lemon Brine
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Mozzarella
- 5 oz (150 grams) fresh mozzarella (or ½ to ⅓ cup shredded firm mozzarella)
To Finish
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: Follow the easy no-knead pizza dough recipe through step 5, including shaping the dough and preheating your oven with a pizza stone for optimal baking.
- Prepare the cheese: If using fresh mozzarella, cut it into ½ inch thick slices. If the mozzarella is very watery, pat it dry gently with a paper towel to remove excess moisture for better texture on the pizza.
- Shape the dough: Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper. Starting from the center, gently press it out with your fingers until you achieve an approximately 9×13 inch rectangle. Carefully transfer the dough onto a pizza peel or the back of a rimmed baking sheet for easy transfer.
- Make the lemon brine: Combine the extra virgin olive oil, water, chopped parsley, grated garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, fine salt, and black pepper in a glass jar with a lid. Shake well until the mixture is emulsified.
- Add the toppings: Using your fingers, make a few dimples over the shaped dough to hold the lemon brine. Scatter the lemon brine evenly across the dough, making sure to fill the dimples. Arrange the mozzarella slices on top.
- Bake the pizza: Carefully slide the pizza with the parchment paper onto the preheated pizza stone in your oven. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is golden brown, typically about 8-10 minutes in a fan-forced oven. Keep an eye on it as baking times may vary by oven.
- Finish and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle the fresh lemon juice over the top. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Add freshly ground black pepper or chili flakes if desired. Slice and serve hot.
Notes
- If your fresh mozzarella is watery, removing excess moisture helps prevent a soggy crust.
- Using a pizza stone and preheating it ensures a crisp crust.
- The lemon brine adds brightness and moisture, so evenly distribute it.
- You can adjust the amount of lemon juice and zest to taste for more or less citrus flavor.
- Watch the pizza closely during baking as oven temperatures and times vary.
- The recipe yields 2 large portions or about 6 slices, perfect for sharing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pizza
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
