Are you tired of the same old tomato sauce and cheese pizza? Looking for a new and exciting way to jazz up your Friday night dinner routine?
Look no further than this deliciously fresh and flavorful pesto pizza recipe! Packed with aromatic herbs, creamy mozzarella cheese, and tangy tomatoes, this homemade pizza will take your taste buds on a culinary adventure.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just looking for an easy dinner option, this recipe is sure to impress. So grab your apron and get ready to make some mouthwatering magic in the kitchen with this easy pesto pizza recipe!
Ingredients Used In Pesto Pizza Recipe
No need to say more; let’s get straight into the ingredients you’ll need to bring this pizza to life!
1. Pizza Dough: The base of any pizza, the dough is what holds everything together. You can either make your pizza dough or use a pre-made one from the store. If making your own, all you need is flour, yeast, salt, and water.
2. Pesto Sauce: The heart and soul of this pizza, infuse it with an irresistible aroma and robust flavor. Traditional pesto is a blend of fresh basil leaves, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and garlic, all ground together into a thick, aromatic paste.
You can either opt for a homemade version, savoring the freshness of hand-picked basil leaves or select a high-quality store-bought pesto to save on prep time.
3. Mozzarella Cheese: This creamy, melt-in-your-mouth cheese is a staple on pesto pizza for good reason. Choose fresh mozzarella for its superior taste and delightful texture that turns perfectly gooey when baked.
4. Cherry Tomatoes: These small, juicy tomatoes add a burst of sweetness and a pop of color to your pizza. Slice them in halves or quarters and distribute them evenly to ensure every slice gets a taste of their fresh, tangy flavor.
5. Fresh Basil Leaves: A few sprigs of fresh basil not only enhance the look of your pizza but also contribute a refreshingly peppery taste. Popular for its aroma, basil complements the pesto and adds another layer of herby goodness.
6. Olive Oil: A drizzle of good-quality extra virgin olive oil can elevate the flavors of your pesto pizza. Its fruity notes and peppery aftertaste offer a wonderful complexity to each bite. Brush the olive oil on the crust for a golden finish.
7. Salt and Pepper: Season your pizza with a pinch of salt and some freshly cracked black pepper to amplify the existing flavors and bring balance to the dish. Simple but essential, these seasonings are the finishing touch.
8. Pine Nuts: These buttery nuts are traditionally used in pesto, but sprinkling a few on top of the pizza adds texture and a nutty flavor that contrasts nicely with the creamy mozzarella.
9. Garlic: A couple of cloves finely minced will deepen the flavor profile of the pesto sauce while providing a subtle kick with each mouthful, enhancing the overall savoriness of the pizza.
10. Cornmeal: Sprinkling cornmeal on your baking surface prevents the dough from sticking and gives the bottom of your pizza a slightly crunchy texture. It’s a baker’s trick for the perfect crust.
11. Other Optional Toppings: To tailor your pesto pizza to your taste, consider adding grilled chicken for protein, sliced olives for saltiness, or a sprinkle of chili flakes for a spicy hit. These additions can cater to personal preferences, making your pizza uniquely yours.
How To Make Pesto Pizza?
Now you have all the ingredients, let’s put it all together and create the ultimate pesto pizza!
Step 1: Preheat The Oven
To ensure your pizza cooks evenly from the second it hits the heat, preheating your oven is a critical first step. Crank up the temperature to a high 475°F (246°C).
Allow the oven to heat for at least 15-20 minutes before baking your pizza, especially if you’re using a baking stone or steel, giving it time to absorb the heat evenly.
Step 2: Prepare The Pizza Dough
While your oven is preheating, take out your pizza dough. If you’ve chosen to make your own, it should be at room temperature to prevent it from snapping back when you try to shape it.
Sprinkle cornmeal on your pizza peel or baking tray to prevent sticking. Then, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a circle of about 12 inches in diameter, or stretch it gently with your hands.
For a more rustic, artisanal finish, leave a thicker border for the crust. Transfer the prepared dough onto the peel or tray layered with cornmeal.
Step 3: Apply The Pesto Sauce
Now, take your desired amount of pesto sauce – typically about 2 to 3 tablespoons for a 12-inch pizza.
Using the back of a spoon or a spatula, spread the pesto evenly across the surface of the dough, starting at the center and working your way toward the edges, leaving a small perimeter for the crust.
Remember, the pesto is robust, so you don’t need to layer it on too thickly; just a thin coating will infuse the pizza with its signature flavor.
Step 4: Add The Cheese
Take your fresh mozzarella and distribute it evenly over the pesto. You can slice it or tear it by hand for a more rustic look.
The cheese will melt and spread, so it’s okay to leave some spaces between the pieces. It’s important not to overload the pizza with cheese; otherwise, it can become soggy, so be judicious in your application.
Step 5: Top With Tomatoes and Garlic
Slice your cherry tomatoes into halves or quarters, depending on their size, and scatter them over the cheese.
Then, take your minced garlic and sprinkle it throughout. This step not only creates visually appealing pops of color but also ensures that you get a hint of garlic and juicy tomato in every bite.
Step 6: Drizzle With Olive Oil and Season
Before your pizza goes into the oven, give it a gentle drizzle of olive oil, especially around the crust.
Then, season with a pinch of salt and a crack of fresh black pepper. These small details contribute to the final flavor profile and should not be overlooked.
Step 7: Bake The Pizza
Slide your pesto pizza onto the hot baking stone or tray in the oven and bake for about 12 to 15 minutes. The high heat will cook the pizza quickly, so keep an eye on it.
You’ll know it’s done when the crust is a deep golden brown and the cheese has melted and started to bubble.
Step 8: Garnish and Serve
Once the pizza is out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, then garnish with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts for an extra flavor and a crunchy texture.
After adding these final touches, slice your pesto pizza into even portions and serve immediately to enjoy its maximum deliciousness and perfect, melty cheese.
Enjoy your delicious pesto pizza!
Useful Tips For Perfect Pesto Pizza
Last but not least, here are a few tips to keep in mind when making your perfect pesto pizza:
1. Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. This includes fresh basil, good olive oil, and real mozzarella.
2. Preheat your oven at least 15 minutes before baking to ensure even cooking.
3. Don’t overload the pizza with toppings; less is more when it comes to a pesto pizza.
4. Let the pizza cool for a few minutes before slicing to avoid burning your mouth, and allow the flavors to meld together.
5. Experiment with different toppings, both traditional and unconventional, to create unique flavor combinations.
With these tips in mind, you can now confidently make a delicious pesto pizza at home.
Conclusion
In short, we have provided you with the pesto pizza recipe. So, next time you’re craving a slice of pizza with a twist, try making your pesto pizza from scratch.
With just a few simple ingredients and some helpful tips, you can create the perfect combination of flavors and textures in this delicious and savory dish.
Go ahead and give it a try – homemade pesto pizza may just become your new favorite meal!
Pesto Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough
- 1/2 cup pesto sauce
- 1 1/2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half or quarters
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 3 tbsp olive oil for drizzling
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional toppings:
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (246°C) and place a baking stone or tray in the oven to heat.
- On a surface dusted with a bit of flour, stretch the pizza dough into a circular shape approximately 12 inches across.
- Apply an even layer of pesto sauce across the dough, making sure to leave a margin around the edges for the crust.
- Add fresh mozzarella cheese on top of the pesto.
- Scatter sliced cherry tomatoes and minced garlic over the cheese.
- Drizzle olive oil around the crust and season with salt and pepper.
- Slide your pizza onto the hot baking stone or tray in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Once done, let the pizza cool for a few minutes before garnishing it with fresh basil leaves and toasted pine nuts.
- Slice into even portions and serve immediately.