Pesto Pizza Bread Recipes

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 425°. Place dough on a lightly floured surface; let rest for 10 minutes. Knead in 1/4 cup cheese, basil and oregano. Roll into a 12-in. circle; place on a greased 14-in. pizza pan. Prick with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes., Spread pesto sauce over the crust. Sprinkle with mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake until golden brown, 8-10 minutes longer.

PESTO PITA PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Arrange pita bread on a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until pita is lightly toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Spread pesto evenly over toasted pita bread and arrange tomato slices in a single layer. Top with feta cheese.
• Continue baking until feta cheese is browned and pita bread is crisp, about 11 minutes more.

PESTO PIZZA WITH FRESH TOMATOES & MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Combine the flour, olive oil, yeast, salt and water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together. Increase the speed to medium-low and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• When the dough has risen, punch it down and place it on a lightly floured surface. Cut in half and roll each part into a ball. Cover the dough balls with a damp kitchen towel and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes (the dough will rise a bit).
• Meanwhile, set an oven rack in the bottom position and preheat the oven to 500°F. Sprinkle the cornmeal on an 18x13-inch baking sheet; set aside. Cut the tomatoes crosswise into ⅛-inch-thick slices and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain the juices.
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour, and then press and stretch the rested dough into two 12x8-inch rectangles. If the dough is sticky, dust it lightly with flour. Place the two pizza doughs side-by-side on the cornmeal-dusted baking sheet. Press the dough out again so that it almost touches the edges of the pan.
• Spread ⅓ cup of the pesto evenly over the pizzas (2½ tablespoons each), leaving a 1-inch border. Bake on the bottom rack for 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven; and then top the pizzas with the mozzarella cheese, followed by the tomato slices and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Season each pizza with an ⅛-teaspoon salt and a few grinds fresh black pepper. Place the pizzas back in the oven and bake until the crust is crisp and golden, 6 to 8 minutes more. Transfer the pizzas to a cutting board. Drizzle the remaining pesto over the pizzas and sprinkle with the fresh basil. Cut into slices and serve immediately.
• Note: Active dry yeast may be used instead of instant/rapid-rise yeast, however, the dough will take longer to rise. To give active dry yeast a boost, you can dissolve it in the warm water and let it sit until frothy, about 10 minutes. After that, add it to the flour, olive oil, and salt, and proceed with the recipe.
• Make Ahead Instructions: Once the dough has completed it's initial rise, and you've cut it in half to form two balls, lightly coat each dough ball with olive oil. Place the dough ball(s) into a freezer bag and seal shut, squeezing out all the air. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. When ready to use, let the dough sit out on the countertop for 30 minutes to warm up before stretching.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to use, defrost in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least 12 hours), and then let it warm up on the countertop for about 30 minutes before stretching.

PESTO PIZZA BREAD

Steps:

• For Sauce.
• Combine first 6 ingredients in processor or blender and puree, stopping machine as necessary to scrape down sides of container; pour into bowl.
• Stir in cheeses, cover and refrigerate.
• (Flavor is better if cheeses are grated and added just before using.).
• For Bread.
• Grease two 14-inch pizza pans or heavy bottomed baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal.
• Oil large mixing bowl and set aside.
• Pour 2/3 cup warm water into another large bowl.
• Add yeast and sugar and stir until disolved.
• Let mixture stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in remaining water with olive oil and salt.
• Mix in about 5 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time, beating well with wooden spoon after each addition, until dough comes away from sides of bowl.
• Sprinkle work surface with 1/2 cup remaining flour.
• Turn dough out onto surface and knead until dough is smooth, shiny and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer dough to oiled bowl, turning to coat all surfaces.
• Cover with towel and let stand in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down, turn out onto floured surface and knead briefly into ball.
• Return to bowl, cover with towel and let stand in warm, draft-free area until doubled again, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down;.turn out onto lightly floured surface.
• Divide dough in half;roll or pat each half into 14-inch circle.
• Transfer to prepared pans.
• Pinch up edges of dough to form shallow rim.
• Brush twice with egg mixture.
• Divide Pesto Sauce evenly between crusts.
• Let stand in warm, draft-free area for approximately 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Bake until crusts are golden brown,about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.
• Bread may be wrapped in foil and refrigerated for several hours after baking and cooling. To reheat, sprinkle with a little water, wrap in foil and warm in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.
• For variations,arrange slices of Fontina, Bel Paese, mozarella or provalone cheese over Pesto Sauce before baking.

PESTO STAR BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine milk, egg, butter, sugar, salt, yeast mixture and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky)., Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll each into a 12-in. circle. Place 1 circle on a greased 14-in. pizza pan. Spread with half the basil pesto to within 1/2 in. of edges; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Place second circle of dough on top; spread with sun-dried tomato pesto and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Top with third circle of dough, remaining basil pesto and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan; top with final portion of dough., Place a 2-1/2-in. round cutter on top of the dough in center of circle (do not press down). With a sharp knife, make 16 evenly spaced cuts from round cutter to edge of dough, forming a starburst. Remove cutter; grasp 2 adjacent strips and rotate twice outward. Pinch ends together. Repeat with remaining strips., Cover with a kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. Remove from oven; brush with melted butter, avoiding areas where pesto is visible. Cool completely on a wire rack. If desired, sprinkle with additional cheese and basil before serving; serve with pesto or marinara.

BREAD PESTO

Steps:

• In a large bowl, place flour, salt and mix until well combined.
• In a small bowl or jug, mix lukewarm water with yeast and sugar. Let it rest for a couple of minutes until foamy.
• Then pour the liquid into the dry ingredients, add the beating egg and olive oil, and stir with a fork until roughly combined.
• Trasfer the dough onto a work surface, and knead for a couple of minutes until smooth. You might need an extra Tbsp of water, trust your judgment here, but overall the dough should be easily pliable.
• Once you shape the dougn into a ball, place it back into its bowl, cover with a damp cloth (to prevent its surface from drying out) and let it rest in a warm place until it doubles in size (about 1 hour).
• Once the dough is ready, place it onto a large sheet of parchment paper.
• Stretch it out with your fingers into a rectangular shape (about 10 x 12 inches).
• Spread the pesto on half of the rectangle, then lift the other side of the parchment paper and fold the other half of the dough over the one covered with pesto. Gently flatten the rectangle with your fingers.
• Cut the rough edges, than with a pizza cutter cut the rectangle lengthwise into 4 large stripes. At this point, you can cut the 4 stripes crosswise in order to get 8 stripes in total. This will give you 8 smaller rolls rather than 4.
• If you keep the stripes long, wrap the dough around your fingers into a loose knot leaving space in the center. Wrap the left end of the dough up and over the loop. Wrap the right end down and under the loop. Try to squeeze into a nice rounded shape. If you cut the stripes shorter, you can easily shape them into spirals.
• Place each roll on to a bakin pan lined with parchment paper, brush them lightly with some egg wash (to keep them moist), and let them rest for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 420°F/220°C.
• Before putting the rolls in the hot oven, brush them again with egg wash and sprinkle with seeds, and salt flakes if you wish.
• Bake them for about 15-20 minutes until golden.

NAAN PESTO PIZZA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Place the naan bread on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Spread the pesto on, leaving about an inch of room towards the edges. Sprinkle cheese and top with spinach.
• Cut grape tomatoes in half and place them on top. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until cheese has melted and naan crust has browned.

3-INGREDIENT PESTO STAR BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500F. Lightly grease or line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
• Lightly sprinkle flour over a cutting board, then use a rolling pin to roll out the first ball of dough until it's about 1/2″ thick. Transfer to the baking sheet. Repeat with other ball of dough, but keep it on the cutting board for now.
• Spread a layer of pesto evenly over the base layer of dough, leaving a 1/2″ edge around the rim. Place the second circle of dough on top, lining the edges up as much as possible. Use your fingers to "pinch the two ends together
• Place a small round object in the center of the dough to prevent cutting all the way through out. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into 16 equal pieces. I find it's easiest to do this by first cutting the dough into quarters, then each fourth into 4 more even pieces.
• Create 8 pairs of two adjacent strips of dough. Holding one strip in each hand, twist the strips outward from each other 2-3 times, then join them together at the end and pinch the "tip." Repeat with the remaining strips of dough - see the blog post video or photos for more help.
• Brush the top of the dough with oil, then place on the top rack of the oven and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until fluffy and golden on top. Serve immediately and enjoy warm; leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or frozen and reheated as necessary.

PESTO AND MOZZARELLA FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the pesto: Heat the oven to 450 degrees with a rack in the middle position. Combine basil, 1 garlic clove and pine nuts in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped. With the machine running, stream in the olive oil. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add Parmesan and salt, and pulse to combine.
• Prepare the pizza: Combine the 1/4 cup olive oil and grated garlic in a small pot over medium. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the garlic starts to sizzle (but doesn't begin to brown), 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place the French bread cut side up on a baking sheet. Brush cut sides with garlic oil. Bake until edges are golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Spread the pesto over the two halves all the way to the edges and top with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is evenly melted, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to broil and broil (watch carefully!) until the cheese is bubbly and browned in spots, 1 to 2 minutes more. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Top with red-pepper flakes, oregano and more Parmesan, if you like.