Pizza Express Releases Secret Recipe

During lockdown, we're all having to go without food from some of our favourite high street eateries - and it's been a rough time.

Thankfully for Pizza Express fans, the high street Italian - famed for its dough balls, carbonara and could-be-in-Italy pizzas - is releasing the secret recipe for one of its bestsellers: the classic Margherita.

Yes, the restaurant has helpfully posted how to make the mozzarella pizza so you can enjoy the next best thing to a Pizza Express from your own home.

The recipe involves just 12 steps, roughly 40 minutes of prep and 10 mins of cooking time for one large pizza.

Ingredients-wise, you'll need yeast, flour, sugar, water and salt for the base and tomato passata, mozzarella, oregano, basil and black pepper for the topping.

The recipe is the latest in Pizza Express's #HomemadeFavourites series, where the chain has already shared recipes for its iconic Dough Balls, Dough Balls Parmigiana and Cheese & Bacon Dough Balls. Mmmm!

Here's the full how-to for the Margherita Pizza (or you can download it here):

Ingredients:

• 150ml warm water (roughly 27 degrees)
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 15g fresh yeast or 2 level tsp of dry yeast
• 225g of plain flour (plus extra for working)
• 1 and 1/2 tsp of salt
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil & a little for drizzling
• 80g of PizzaExpress passata (or any tomato passata you have)
• 70g mozzarella (or any cheese you have)
• Pinch of oregano
• 1 Basil leaf (if you have one)
• Black pepper

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 230°C.
2. Add the sugar and crumble the fresh yeast into warm water.
3. Allow the mixture to stand for 10-15 minutes in a warm place (we find a windowsill on a sunny day works best) until froth develops on the surface.
4. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl, make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil.
5. Lightly flour your hands, and slowly mix the ingredients together until they bind.
6. Generously dust your surface with flour.
7. Throw down the dough and begin kneading for 10 minutes until smooth, silky and soft.
8. Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling film or a towel. Leave to rest until soft to the touch, but not too springy - about 15 mins.
9. On a well floured surface, evenly roll each piece with a rolling pin to make a round, thin pizza base.
10. Place on a lightly oiled, non-stick baking tray (we used a round one, but any shape will do!)
11. Spread the passata on top making sure you almost go to the edge.
12. Evenly place the mozzarella (or other cheese) on top and season with the oregano and black pepper then drizzle with a little olive oil.
13. Cook in the oven for 10 - 12 minutes until the cheese slightly colours.
14. When ready, place the basil leaf on top if you have one.

Back in early October, it was reported that the much-loved high street eatery was in administration talks, reportedly facing a debt of over £1.6 million per restaurant.

However in November, it was reported its owner Hony Capital would be injecting £80 million into the flailing business to save it.

Make sure to keep your eye on Pizza Express's Homemade Favourite's page for the next recipe.

We're crossing all our fingers for a pasta!