3 Cheese Lemon Basil Pizza (Print Version)

Three cheeses, zesty lemon, and fresh basil create a vibrant pizza on a crisp, golden crust—perfect for a vegetarian main dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 ball (250 g) fresh pizza dough
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil, for brushing

→ Cheeses

03 - 100 g fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces
04 - 70 g ricotta cheese
05 - 40 g grated Parmesan cheese

→ Toppings & Garnish

06 - Zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
07 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
08 - 1 small handful fresh basil leaves, torn
09 - 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 - Sea salt, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 250°C. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
02 - Stretch or roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to a 30 cm circle. Transfer to parchment paper.
03 - Brush the surface of the dough with olive oil. Evenly scatter minced garlic over the base.
04 - Distribute mozzarella and ricotta evenly on the dough, leaving a 1–2 cm border. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top.
05 - Season with a pinch of sea salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
06 - Scatter half of the lemon zest over the cheeses.
07 - Transfer the pizza (with parchment) to the preheated oven or pizza stone. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheeses are bubbling.
08 - Remove the pizza from the oven. Immediately sprinkle with remaining lemon zest and torn basil leaves. Drizzle with extra olive oil if desired.
09 - Slice and serve the pizza hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Uses just one dough ball and classic cheeses you likely have on hand
  • Ready in just over half an hour from start to finish
  • The combination of lemon zest and basil makes every bite taste light and summery
  • You can customize it with easy swaps like goat cheese or arugula
02 -
  • High in protein thanks to three types of cheese
  • Vegetarian friendly and quick to prepare for surprising guests
  • You can double the recipe for a party or make mini versions for snacks
03 -
  • Let the dough come to room temperature before stretching for the fluffiest texture
  • Always use fresh lemon zest and basil for the most vibrant flavor
  • If you do not have a pizza stone bake the pizza on the lowest oven rack to mimic the effect

Go Back