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Lemon Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Basil Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 64 reviews

This Lemon Pizza recipe combines a homemade crispy crust with a flavorful blend of cheeses, fresh lemon slices, garlic, shallots, and a drizzle of hot honey. Perfectly baked to achieve a bubbly cheese topping and caramelized lemon edges, this unique pizza offers a bright, savory, and slightly sweet flavor profile that’s both refreshing and indulgent.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough

  • 1 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup warm water (90°F to 100°F)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for brushing

For the Topping

  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)
  • 1 cup cubed fresh mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)
  • 1 small lemon, thinly sliced and seeds removed
  • 1 tbsp hot honey, for drizzling
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, cut into chiffonade

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, sprinkle the yeast and sugar over the warm water. Whisk to combine and let sit until bubbles form on the surface, about 5 minutes, indicating the yeast is active.
  2. Make the dough: Add the flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil to the yeast mixture and mix with the dough hook on low speed until the dough starts to come together, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl sides and bottom, then increase to medium-low speed and mix until well incorporated and sticky, 2 to 3 minutes more.
  3. Let the dough rise: Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the dough and sides of the bowl, flip the dough to coat it in oil, then cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven and prepare baking surface: About 30 minutes before baking, place a pizza stone, steel, or upside-down baking sheet on the upper third rack of your oven and preheat to 500°F. Prepare an upside-down baking sheet by covering it with heavy-duty foil, brushing with olive oil, and dusting with flour.
  5. Shape the dough: On a floured surface, cut the dough in half and shape each half into tight balls. Place them about 3 inches apart, cover, and let rest until dough relaxes and springs back slowly when pressed lightly, around 10 minutes.
  6. Stretch out the dough: Take one dough ball and gently stretch and pull it into a 10-inch round, transferring it to the prepared baking sheet. Keep the other dough ball covered.
  7. Add toppings: Brush the stretched dough generously with olive oil, including the edges. Evenly distribute half of the parmesan cheese, chopped garlic, sliced shallots, shredded low-moisture mozzarella, and cubed fresh mozzarella over the crust. Arrange half of the lemon slices on top and lightly brush them with olive oil.
  8. Bake the pizza: Using the foil-covered baking sheet as a peel, slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or steel. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes until the crust is golden brown, the cheese is bubbling, and the lemon edges are caramelized.
  9. Finish and serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle with half the hot honey and sprinkle with half the fresh basil. Repeat the process with the second dough ball and remaining toppings to serve a total of two pizzas.

Notes

  • Ensure the water temperature is between 90°F to 100°F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • You can substitute the pizza stone with a pizza steel or an inverted heavy-duty baking sheet if you don’t have one.
  • If making dough ahead, shaped dough balls can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for longer storage.
  • Removing seeds from lemon slices reduces bitterness and helps caramelize the lemon evenly.
  • Hot honey adds a spicy-sweet finish but can be adjusted or omitted based on preference.

Keywords: lemon pizza, homemade pizza, pizza dough, lemon slices, mozzarella pizza, parmesan, garlic shallots, hot honey pizza, unique pizza recipe

Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/lemon-pizza-with-fresh-mozzarella-parmesan-and-basil-recipe/