Cheesy Asparagus Pizza Recipes

BACON AND ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Adjust oven racks to the middle of the oven. Place a cast iron pizza stone or pan in the oven to heat for 1 hour.
• Blanch asparagus 1 minute in a large pot of boiling salted water, then remove and shock in a bowl of ice water. Drain well.
• Place asparagus in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine well.
• Flour your work surface and roll the pizza dough into a 12-inch diameter. Carefully remove the cast iron pizza stone from the oven and put the dough on top.
• Ladle the sauce to cover the bottom of the pizza and top with mozzarella, red onion, bacon, and asparagus coins. Arrange the 8 whole pieces of asparagus fanned out from the center the pizza, like spokes on a bicycle.
• Bake until golden and crisp and the cheese has melted, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic slices, and red pepper flakes, and saute until the edges of the garlic begin to turn golden, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper and let simmer 15 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and stir in the torn basil. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

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.

CHEESY BAKED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange asparagus in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; add cream, salt and pepper. Top with mozzarella, cashews and Parmesan cheese. Bake until asparagus is tender and cheese is melted and golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Transfer dish to wire cooling rack; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

GOAT CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss asparagus with oil in medium bowl to coat. Unroll pizza dough on baking sheet, forming 9x12-inch rectangle. Spoon tomatoes over dough, leaving 3/4-inch plain border. Scatter asparagus with oil over tomatoes. Bake pizza 7 minutes. Remove from oven. Crumble goat cheese over pizza. Sprinkle with marjoram and crushed pepper. Bake until crust is golden around edges, about 9 minutes longer.

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.