Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 16 ounces store-bought pizza dough room temperature
  • cornmeal for sprinkling (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for drizzling (optional)
  • 1 pinch salt to taste
  • 1 pinch pepper to taste
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 4 ounces marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
  • 16 ounces whole-milk mozzarella shredded and/or sliced
  • 12 fresh basil leaves cut into ribbons or torn
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Instruction

  • Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F with top rack positioned in the upper quadrant of the oven. 2. Stretch store-bought pizza dough into a flattened 12-inch round, oiling as needed to comply. 3. Place a 12-inch dry cast-iron skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. 4. When the pan is screaming hot, but not smoking, sprinkle the bottom with cornmeal, if using. 5. Working carefully and quickly, flip the flattened dough into the skillet and, with delicate fingers, stretch the dough evenly across the bottom and slightly up the sides of the hot skillet. 6. Brush or drizzle the dough with extra-virgin olive oil (optional) and season to taste with salt and a few grinds of fresh black pepper. If desired, rub a single clove of garlic over the surface of the dough for additional flavor. 7. Spoon the marinara over the crust -- spreading it and swirling it out from edge to edge. 8. Bake for 10-15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. 9. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle fresh basil on top and drizzle with hot honey (optional) to serve. Hot Honey Drizzle: In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, and balsamic vinegar on low heat for 5 minutes. Drizzle over warm pizza.