Pesto pizza

1 h
Pesto pizza

Discover a world of flavour with our pesto pizza recipe! With a golden crust made from scratch and a rich, herbaceous pesto base, this pizza offers a gourmet experience that is perfect for impressing friends or simply indulging in a delicious home-cooked meal with the family. Topped with a carefully curated selection of ingredients, each bite is bursting with deliciousness. Kiss those takeout menus goodbye and prepare to impress your taste buds with a homemade pesto pizza that is equal parts scrumptious and satisfying. Get ready to savour a slice of pure culinary joy!

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Ingredients

Pizza crust

Yeast
15 g
Lukewarm water
200 ml
Coarse salt
½ tsp
Whole grain durum flour (approx. 2½ dl)
150 g
Pizza flour (approx. 3½ dl)
200 g

Mushroom mix

Olive oil
2 tsp
Mixed mushrooms in bite-sized pieces, for example, white button mushroom, field mushroom, king oyster mushroom, and beech mushroom
500 g
Large, chopped garlic clove
1
Chopped fresh thyme
2 tbsp
Coarse salt
1 tsp
Freshly ground pepper
Red onions in half, thin slices (approx. 300 g)
4
White balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp
Basil pesto
4 tbsp
Rinsed rocket salads
50 g
Cottage cheese, 4%, organic
200 g
Coarsely chopped, toasted hazelnuts
3 tbsp

Instructions

Pizza crust

  • Preheat the oven to 225°C regular oven. Place a baking tray in the oven to heat up.
  • In a bowl, mix yeast with water. Add salt and both types of flour (save some of the pizza flour).
  • Combine the ingredients with a wooden spoon until everything is well combined.
  • Allow the dough to rise, covered, on the kitchen counter for about 15 minutes. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it well. Add the remaining pizza flour if needed.
  • Roll the dough out into a rectangular shape (approx. 34x38 cm). Place the dough on a piece of baking paper. Transfer it onto the hot baking tray and bake the base in the middle of the oven for about 15 minutes until golden.

Mushroom mix

  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan. Fry the robust mushrooms (button and king oyster mushrooms) for about 4 minutes. Add the light mushrooms (beech mushrooms), garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper, and fry for another minute.
  • Remove the mushrooms from the pan. Add onions and vinegar to the pan and sauté the onions while stirring for about 2 minutes.
  • Return the mushrooms to the pan and heat well.

Assemble

  • Spread the pesto onto the warm crust and add the mushrooms on top. Add the rocket salad on top of the pesto, followed by cottage cheese and nuts. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Tips

When mixing the dough, pay close attention to its texture. It should be elastic and slightly tacky but not overly sticky. Kneading the dough properly is crucial for developing the gluten and achieving a chewy yet tender crust. A well-kneaded dough should pass the ‘windowpane test’, which involves stretching a small piece of dough until it becomes thin enough to be translucent without tearing. If the dough does not pass this test, continue kneading until it does. Allow the dough to rest and rise to improve its texture and flavour.

Questions about pesto pizza

Pesto pizza is a delicious new take on an old-time classic. Whether you are a seasoned pizza maker or a curious first-timer, we have got you covered with answers to the most frequently asked questions about crafting the perfect pesto pizza. Read on to discover more!

What is pesto pizza?

Pesto pizza is a type of pizza that topped with a base of pesto sauce instead of the traditional tomato sauce. Pesto is a sauce that is made from fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, and it has a bright green colour and a distinct, herbaceous flavour. The basil pesto gives the pizza an aromatic and distinct taste that goes perfectly with various toppings.

How to make pesto pizza?

Prepare the pizza crust by mixing yeast, water, salt, and flour and let the dough rise for 15 minutes before rolling it out and baking it at 225°C until golden. Meanwhile, create a mushroom mix by frying mushrooms with garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper, then sautéing onions and vinegar in the same pan. Assemble the pizza by spreading pesto on the warm crust and topping it with the mushroom mixture, rocket salad, cottage cheese, and nuts.

What to put on pesto pizza?

Toppings such as mushrooms, red onions, rocket salad, cottage cheese, and hazelnuts work well with pesto. The earthy and umami flavours of the mushrooms complement the herby and nutty notes of the pesto. Red onions add a mild sweetness and a slight crunch, while the peppery rocket salad yields a fresh counterpoint to the other ingredients. Meanwhile, cottage cheese provides a creamy and tangy element, balancing the rich pesto. Hazelnuts contribute a nutty crunch, enhancing the overall flavour profile and creating a harmonious combination with the pesto base.

How to use pesto on pizza?

One common way is to spread pesto directly onto the crust as a base, replacing traditional tomato sauce. Alternatively, you can mix it with a white sauce or tomato sauce for an aromatic, flavourful base. Another option is to drizzle pesto over the pizza toppings before or after baking, adding a burst of flavour and vibrant colour.

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Homemade pesto pizza with mushrooms and cottage cheese

Experience a delightful homemade pesto pizza topped with earthy mushrooms and creamy cottage cheese. This culinary masterpiece combines the charm of a cosy Italian trattoria and the satisfaction of creating a scrumptious meal from scratch right in the comfort of your kitchen. Delight your family and friends with this flavour-packed creation that showcases your pizza-making prowess. This flavour-packed creation will not only impress your loved ones but also allow you to share the joy of a delectable, home-cooked meal.

For more delicious Italian-style recipes, be sure to check out our osso buco recipe, our delicious, classic spaghetti carbonara, and, if in need of a snack or side dish, these scrumptious tomato basil bruschetta.

Make the pizza dough from scratch

There is nothing quite like the aroma of freshly made pizza dough wafting through your home, and the gratification of crafting it yourself is unmatched. Making the dough from scratch lets you control the quality of the ingredients, resulting in a more flavourful crust. Say goodbye to store-bought crusts and hello to the wholesome goodness of homemade dough made from simple, basic ingredients as well as pizza flour and wholegrain durum flour.

Bursting with umami, salty, acidic, sweet, and nutty flavours

This pizza with pesto offers a harmonious medley of flavours that perfectly complement the herby and nutty pesto base. The rich umami depth of mushrooms and the salty tang of cottage cheese accentuate the bold taste of the pesto. Balsamic vinegar introduces a zesty acidic punch, while the sweetness of sautéed red onions and cottage cheese balances the overall flavour profile. Finally, the nutty notes of hazelnuts echo the pesto's nuttiness and bring it all together.

Choose the best toppings for pesto pizza

When selecting pesto pizza toppings, it is important to consider the interplay between flavours and textures. We pair the creamy consistency of the pesto with the tender bite of mushrooms, the crispy crunch of red onions, and the soft, smooth texture of cottage cheese. Top it all off with chopped hazelnuts for a nutty finishing touch, providing a crunchy contrast that enhances the overall eating experience. By thoughtfully combining these flavours and textures, you can create a memorable and delectable pesto pizza.

Experiment with the pesto

Experimenting with pesto can add new dimensions of flavour to this homemade pesto pizza. One option is to infuse the dough itself with pesto. By mixing a tablespoon or two of pesto into the dough during the kneading process, the entire crust becomes more flavourful and interesting. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the liquid or flour content to maintain the consistency of the dough.

Mixing different pesto varieties, such as traditional basil pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, or roasted red pepper pesto, can create an exciting taste experience. When blending these types, it is essential to balance the flavours and experiment with different ratios. While using multiple types of pesto results in a more complex flavour, opting for a single variety can yield a more straightforward taste, so experiment a bit to figure out what you like the best.

https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/pesto-pizza/