Dame Mary Berry, the undisputed queen of no-fuss British cookery, has once again demonstrated her culinary magic with a brilliantly simple homemade pizza recipe. Her approach transforms a classic dish into something special using a straightforward base and just three carefully chosen toppings.
The Mary Berry Philosophy: Simple Yet Special
Mary Berry has built her legendary career on elevating everyday meals without unnecessary complication. This pizza is a perfect example of that ethos. With only three additional ingredients beyond the base and tomato sauce, she creates a flavour and texture combination that feels luxurious yet is entirely achievable for any home cook. BBC Food enthusiastically recommends the recipe, stating that Mary Berry's "homemade pizza tastes wonderful. Give Mary's a go for a special supper that will please everyone."
How to Make Mary Berry's Signature Pizza
This recipe is designed to serve four people and requires a total cooking time of between 30 minutes to an hour. The preparation stage is more involved, taking approximately one to two hours, depending on your confidence in the kitchen.
You will need the following ingredients:
For the dough:
250g of strong white flour
150ml of water
One teaspoon of fast-action dried yeast
One small garlic clove
Half a teaspoon of salt
One tablespoon of olive oil
For the topping:
One tablespoon of olive oil
Two onions
One tablespoon light brown muscovado sugar
One tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
Seven fluid ounces (7fl oz) of passata
Salt and pepper to taste
Eight slices of Parma ham
200g of soft goats’ cheese
Fresh basil leaves
Step-by-Step Method
Begin by making the dough. Combine the flour, yeast, finely chopped garlic, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add between 150ml and 175ml of water, mixing until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead thoroughly for a full 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover it, and leave it in a warm spot to prove. It should double in size, which will take between one and one and a half hours.
While the dough is rising, prepare the key topping. Heat the oil in a lidded frying pan and add the sliced onions. Cook until softened, then cover the pan and let them simmer gently for 15 minutes. Next, stir in the muscovado sugar and balsamic vinegar. Increase the heat and continue cooking until the onions turn a rich, golden colour. Set them aside to cool.
When the dough is ready, preheat your oven to a very hot 240°C (220°C for fan ovens). Place a heavy baking tray inside to heat up. Knock back the proved dough and shape it on baking parchment into a 30cm circle, ensuring the edges are slightly thicker to form a crust.
Spread the passata over the base, then scatter over the caramelised onions. Arrange the slices of Parma ham and crumble the soft goats’ cheese evenly across the pizza. Carefully slide the pizza, still on its paper, onto the preheated baking tray and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted.
Finish the pizza with a scattering of fresh basil leaves and a final drizzle of olive oil before serving immediately.
Why This Recipe Works
The genius of Mary Berry's recipe lies in the trio of toppings. The sweet, sticky balsamic onions provide a deep, rich base note. The salty, umami-packed Parma ham adds a savoury punch, while the creamy, tangy goats’ cheese brings everything together with its distinctive flavour and luxurious texture. This combination proves that you don't need a long list of ingredients to create a pizza that feels gourmet and will delight the whole family.
