Gourmet Pesto Pizza Recipes

PESTO CHICKEN PIZZA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Beat in 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon oil, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the remaining flour; beat until combined., Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the chicken, onion, peppers and mushrooms in remaining oil until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are tender. Remove from the heat; set aside. , Punch dough down; roll into a 15-in. circle. Transfer to a 14-in. pizza pan. Build up edges slightly. Spread with pesto. Top with chicken mixture and cheese. Sprinkle with pepper and remaining salt. , Bake at 400° for 18-20 minutes or until crust and cheese are lightly browned. Freeze option: Securely wrap and freeze unbaked pizza. To use, unwrap pizza; bake as directed, increasing time as necessary.

PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Spread pesto on pizza crust. Top with tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, red onions, artichoke hearts and feta cheese.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.

EASY PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, combine Ricotta and Parmesan.
• Spread pesto over the ready-to-cook pizza crust. Spread the ricotta and Parmesan over the pesto, and layer the tomatoes over the cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan to taste.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

HOMEMADE MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA WITH PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the ground lamb with spices in a medium-size bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined.
• Roll into small balls about 3/4 of an inch around.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and when hot add the olive oil. Place the lamb meatballs in the skillet giving space between them.
• Cook for about 4 minutes turning them a couple of times until they are browned.
• Remove from the pan and set aside for adding to the pizza.
• Preheat the oven to its hottest setting - 550°F is preferred (or as hot as your oven will go) and place a pizza stone in the oven to preheat as well.
• On a floured surface, flatten out the ball of dough. With a rolling pin, begin from the center and roll out in all directions until you have the desired thickness.
• Place the pizza dough on a piece of parchment paper.
• Spoon on the pesto sauce to the rolled-out dough and smear around leaving one inch of the outer crust free of sauce.
• Add the lamb meatballs, sundried tomatoes, olives, and cheeses.
• Remove the pizza stones from the oven. Carefully place the parchment paper with the pizza onto the stone.
• Baked in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the crust and cheeses are both golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and add the spinach. Slice and serve.

PESTO CHICKEN PIZZA

Steps:

• For the pizza dough: Place the warm water in a small bowl and stir in the yeast and sugar until dissolved. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and set aside until the liquid is foamy (about 10 minutes).
• In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture and oil. With a wooden spoon, beat the ingredients together to form a soft, sticky mass.
• Turn the dough onto a well-floured work surface. With floured hands, knead the dough, adding more flour, a little at a time, until smooth and elastic, 8 to 12 minutes. Form the dough into a ball.
• Place the dough in a large bowl that has been brushed with oil. Turn the dough to coat all sides with oil. Cover with wax paper and a clean towel, and place in a warm draft free place. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• With a floured fist, punch down the dough. Cover again and allow the dough to rise another 40 minutes.
• The dough is now ready to be rolled out for a pizza.
• For the pesto pizza: Place the rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the rolled-out pizza dough onto a 16-inch oiled pizza pan or screen.
• Place the pesto onto the pizza dough and spread it around the surface of the pizza. Leave about a 1/2-inch border on the outside of dough.
• Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the pizza. Place the chopped chicken on top of the cheese.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Check it occasionally to ensure it doesn't burn.
• Remove the cooked pizza from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes (if you can wait that long). Sprinkle the basil on top of pizza, then cut and enjoy!

GOURMET PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• If the pizza dough has been refrigerated, take it out and let it warm up a bit.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan and then add the mushrooms and chopped onions. Saute until soft. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute or two. If there is liquid remaining in the pain, drain it.
• Stretch out the pizza dough onto a lightly oiled pizza pan, or a pizza stone.
• spread the pesto sauce onto the dough -- it's best of the pesto is a little less oily than usual: if I buy store-bought I let it separate a bit in the container and then avoid the oil rather than mixing it back inches.
• Top with the sauteed vegetables, then the shredded cheese.
• Add the black olives and small (1/2 inch cubes) chunks of the goat cheese.
• Bake according to the instructions on the dough or dough recipe (generally 450 degrees for about 10-12 minutes).
• Slice and enjoy!

PESTO, ROASTED CORN, AND BLUE CHEESE PIZZA

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Stand corn on its end in the pan and cut kernels directly into the pan. Add red bell pepper and cook for 10 minutes, or until corn begins to brown. Remove from heat and reserve.
• Sprinkle your rolling surface with a handful of cornmeal or flour. Place the dough in the middle of the surface. Roll dough out gently 1/4-inch thick, into either a 12-inch rectangle or circle. Brush both sides with olive oil and set aside until ready to grill.
• If you are grilling on a charcoal grill, set coals on one side of the grill.
• Place dough directly on the cooking grate over medium heat for 1 to 3 minutes, until the crust is well marked and browned. Flip dough and spread pesto evenly over crust. Sprinkle corn and bell pepper over top, then place cheese over the top. Move to indirect heat (for charcoal: the side of charcoal grill that has no coals. For gas: turn off burner directly under pizza). Cover grill and cook for 5 to10 minutes, or until bottom is well browned, and cheese is fully melted.
• Remove from grill, season with salt and pepper and slice. Serve immediately