Asparagus And Plum Tomato Pizza Food

GRILLED-ASPARAGUS, TOMATO, AND FONTINA PIZZETTE

Steps:

• Preheat grill for direct- and indirect-heat cooking to 500 degrees (if grill does not have a temperature gauge, set an oven thermometer on upper rack). If distance between grill grates is 1 inch or greater, preheat a metal cooling rack directly on grill to prevent dough from sinking through.
• Toss asparagus and scallions with oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning a few times, until charred in places but still firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool slightly; when cool enough to handle, cut scallions into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• Turn dough out onto a pizza peel or thin wooden cutting board dusted with semolina (do not punch down). Divide into thirds. Starting in center of each and using both hands, press down and outward with your fingertips while allowing dough to slowly turn. Gradually work toward edges, leaving a 1-inch border of undisturbed dough, until each is stretched to an approximately 7-inch round.
• Lightly drizzle each round with oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to grill over direct heat and cook just until set and lightly charred on bottoms, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from grill.
• Divide half of cheese evenly among crusts, then top with asparagus, scallions, tomatoes, and thyme. Sprinkle evenly with remaining cheese. Return pizzette to grill over indirect heat. Cover and cook until crusts are golden brown in places, asparagus is crisp-tender, and cheese is bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately.

SHEET-PAN PIZZA WITH ASPARAGUS AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees. Pour 3 tablespoons oil into a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet and brush to coat. (If you don't have a quarter sheet pan, you can use a larger one and aim to stretch the dough into a 9-by-13-inch rectangle.) Carefully stretch dough evenly to fill the baking sheet, avoiding creating holes or thin spots. The dough probably won't fit the baking sheet, so let it rest while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. If it still resists, layering the ingredients on top will help it keep its shape.
• Dollop the ricotta around the dough. Tear the mozzarella into pieces and distribute evenly. Toss the asparagus with the peppers and 1 teaspoon oil; arrange randomly over the cheese. Cut the pancetta slices in half, if using, and tuck them in here and there.
• Bake on bottom rack of oven for 15 minutes. If it seems to be darkening too quickly, lower heat to 450 degrees. Remove from oven, top with olives and return to oven for another 5 minutes until cheese is starting to brown and the crust is browned and crisp. Remove pan from the oven and immediately slide the pizza off the pan and onto a wire rack to prevent sogginess. After a few minutes, slide onto a board for serving. Season with flaky salt and pepper.
• In a medium bowl, toss parsley and arugula with lemon juice and remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Season with flaky salt and pepper. Garnish pizza with salad and serve.

ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Trim 1/2 pound asparagus. Cut each stalk in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Form 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough (at room temperature) into an 11-by-15-inch rectangle on an oiled piece of parchment. Top with the asparagus and 1 cup shredded fontina. Slide the crust (on the parchment) onto a preheated pizza stone or inverted baking sheet. Bake at 475˚ until the bottom is crisp, 12 minutes. Top with pesto and red pepper flakes.

GRILLED PIZZAS WITH ASPARAGUS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium. In a large bowl, combine asparagus, scallions, and 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 6 to 9 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut asparagus and scallions into thirds.
• Brush a large baking sheet with 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil. On a lightly floured work surface, divide dough in half. Roll or stretch to form two 9-inch ovals. Transfer to prepared sheet, and brush with remaining tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil.
• Transfer dough pieces to grill. Cook until undersides are firm and beginning to char, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs or a large spatula, transfer crusts, grilled side up, back to baking sheet.
• Dividing evenly, top crusts with ricotta, then asparagus, scallions, and sun-dried tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Slide back onto grill and cook, rotating occasionally, until crusts are cooked through and cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer pizzas to a cutting board, cut in half, and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the frozen pie crust onto a baking sheet. Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.
• Saute the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on a paper towel. Add onion and asparagus tips to the skillet with the bacon fat and saute until tender, approximately 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl whisk together ricotta, milk and eggs. Add parsley, half the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add asparagus and onion mixture and combine well. Pour egg mixture into the prepared crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until filling has set and the tart is lightly browned on top. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• In a small bowl, toss the remaining tomatoes with the basil, balsamic vinegar and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Serve as garnish for tart.

RICOTTA FRITTATA SUPREME PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Whisk together the eggs and ricotta in large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir for a few seconds, until fragrant. Add the egg-ricotta mixture and cook, stirring gently, until it starts to set, a few minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake until nearly set, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in another medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage to the pan, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon; cook until cooked through and browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onions, peppers and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and let cook for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside until ready to use.
• Remove the frittata from the oven and spoon the pizza sauce over the top. Top with the sausage mixture, pepperoni, mozzarella and Parmesan. Return to the oven and bake until cheese has melted, another 8 to 10 minutes.
• Let the frittata cool in the pan for a few minutes before sliding it out onto a cutting board. Cut into slices and serve.
• Add the tomatoes, olive oil, salt, basil and oregano to a food processor and puree until smooth. Pour the sauce into a medium saucepot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and hold at a simmer until ready to use.

ASPARAGUS, FINGERLING POTATO, AND GOAT CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Place potatoes in small saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Sprinkle with salt. Bring to boil and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Cool. Cut potatoes into thin slices.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle rimless baking sheet with cornmeal. Roll and stretch pizza dough to 16x11-inch oval. Transfer to baking sheet. Mix 1 tablespoon olive oil and garlic in small bowl. Brush garlic oil over dough. Sprinkle 3/4 of green onions over, then mozzarella, leaving 1/2-inch plain border. Top with potato slices and goat cheese. Toss asparagus and 1 tablespoon oil in medium bowl. Scatter asparagus over pizza. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then lightly with salt and generously with pepper.
• Bake pizza until crust is browned and asparagus is tender, about 18 minutes. Transfer to cutting board. Sprinkle with remaining green onions. Cut into pieces.

FRESH TOMATO PIZZAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush 2 baking sheets with oil; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out each piece into a 6-inch disk about 1/4 inch thick.
• Transfer disks to oiled baking sheets. Brush with oil, and sprinkle with salt. Top each disk with a thin layer of tomato slices.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over each disk. Top each with a few more tomato slices, and sprinkle with another tablespoon cheese. Sprinkle each pizza with 1/2 teaspoon oregano.
• Bake until crusts are golden, about 20 minutes. Drizzle pizzas with extra-virgin olive oil before serving, if desired.

PIZZA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in water and set aside to proof for about five minutes. Pour yeast mixture into a bowl, add salt, olive oil, pepper and two cups of flour. Mix well. Add some of the remaining flour, in two or three portions, until the dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl. You should have some flour left.
• Dust a work surface with some of the remaining flour and turn the dough out onto it. Knead until it is very smooth and elastic, kneading in additional flour as necessary.
• Place the dough in a large lightly oiled bowl. Turn the dough to oil the top, cover loosely and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour at room temperature. Punch the dough down.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place oven rack in the lowest position. Dust a lightly oiled baking sheet or pizza stone with cornmeal.
• Divide the dough into four portions and roll or stretch each to form an eight-inch circle, leaving a thicker border.
• Snap off the bottom ends of the asparagus and peel the bottom half of each. Slice each asparagus in half lengthwise, then cut each piece in half.
• Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the circles of dough, then arrange the asparagus pieces, cut side down, in a pattern on each. Sprinkle with Fontina and Gorgonzola.
• Bake pizzas about 15 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned and the cheese is bubbling. Serve at once.