Description
This Sardine Margherita recipe combines the classic flavors of Margherita pizza with the rich, savory addition of sardines. Featuring a crispy crust topped with tomato sauce, sautéed cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and flavorful sardines, it offers a quick and delicious meal perfect for seafood lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 prepared pizza dough or 2 flatbreads
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Toppings
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce or crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces
- 1 (3.75 oz) can sardines in olive oil, drained
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Chili flakes or lemon zest (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). If you are using pizza dough, stretch it out onto a baking sheet or a pizza stone to prepare it for toppings.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook it for about 1 minute until it becomes fragrant but not browned.
- Cook Cherry Tomatoes: Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet with the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the tomatoes soften slightly. Season the mixture with a pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the flavor.
- Spread Sauce and Season: Evenly spread the tomato sauce or crushed San Marzano tomatoes over the prepared pizza dough or flatbreads. Sprinkle the dried oregano evenly on top of the sauce.
- Add Tomato-Garlic Mixture and Cheese: Distribute the sautéed cherry tomatoes and garlic mixture evenly over the sauce. Then scatter the torn pieces of fresh mozzarella across the pizza.
- Top with Sardines: Place the drained sardines over the cheese and tomato layers, either whole or broken into chunks, depending on your preference.
- Bake: Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese melts and bubbles beautifully.
- Garnish: Once baked, remove the pizza from the oven and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Optionally, add chili flakes or a sprinkle of lemon zest for an extra kick of flavor.
- Serve: Slice the pizza and serve it hot for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Using a pizza stone can help achieve a crispier crust.
- Feel free to use flatbreads as a shortcut for a quicker meal.
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes or lemon zest based on your spice preference.
- Make sure to drain sardines well to avoid sogginess on the pizza.
- The recipe can be doubled easily to serve more people.
