Hand-Tossed Italian Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella and Basil

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-17 · Updated 2026-05-17

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A classic Italian pizza featuring a hand-tossed thin crust topped with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil leaves. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 87 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 75 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
8 oz, sliced fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup whole fresh basil leaves
2, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tsp sugar in 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F). Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Step 2: Add 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir and knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
Step 3: Preheat oven to 500°F with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside.
Step 4: Punch down the dough and divide into two balls. Roll one ball into a 12-inch circle on a floured surface.
Step 5: Spread 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes evenly over the dough, then scatter 2 minced garlic cloves and 8 oz sliced fresh mozzarella on top.
Step 6: Slide the pizza onto the hot stone or baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is crisp and cheese is bubbly.
Step 7: Remove pizza and immediately top with 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, drizzle 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese before slicing and serving.