The other day I realized that I rarely see pesto pizza listed on the menu of a restaurant. Think about it – when was the last time you saw it readily available and not just as an occasional special? Probably not for a while. Did you even know pesto pizza existed? Yes it does! In my mind, pesto pizza is also healthier than other pizza varieties (although I don’t really have any nutritional data to back that statement haha). Since I think it’s pretty darn tasty, I decided it was about time to share this recipe with you guys!
There are only 4 simple ingredients: crust, pesto, ricotta, red pepper. They all work perfectly with each other, but make sure that your ingredients are fresh! That’s actually something really important to get into the habit of doing – when you only have a few ingredients in a dish, make the ones you use are as fresh as possible. For this recipe I use spinach pesto (cause that’s my favorite), but any type will do. The pesto kind of melts into the crisp and chewy crust, while the ricotta gives each bite a creamy body. The red pepper pops against the green and white, while also adding a slight sweet note to each slice. Feel free to pile on as many peppers as you want…honestly don’t skimp on the peppers. Its so delicious! Whenever I make this recipe, I always catch my family sneaking slices when I’m not looking haha…as if I wouldn’t notice when the entire pizza is missing! Haha!
In short, I love pesto. Its so light and fresh, especially in the summer. Also, I love how vibrantly green it is. Maybe it’s the little kid in me, but eating a green “sauce” is still pretty fun even though I’m 25! Add delicious carbs and cheese to that, and well…we have ourselves a meal.
In short, I love pesto. Its so light and fresh, especially in the summer. Also, I love how vibrantly green it is. Maybe it’s the little kid in me, but eating a green “sauce” is still pretty fun even though I’m 25! Add delicious carbs and cheese to that, and well…we have ourselves a meal.
- 8 oz pizza dough
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 5-6 teaspoons ricotta
- 1/2 red bell pepper (sliced)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roll out your pizza dough to fit your pizza stone or greased baking sheet.
Spread pesto onto the dough.
Dollop with ricotta cheese (1 teaspoon at a time).
Sprinkle on the sliced red bell pepper.
Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on the top.
Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy!
:)
5 comments
Jen says:
Sep 20, 2012
So I tried making a pizza the other day (I’m going to post about it over the weekend) and they mentioned to put in the dough for 7-8 minutes. The dough was still too doughy. I checked this post and you put yours in for 15 minutes. Definitely trying that next time!
Stephen says:
Sep 20, 2012
Nice! I always bake mine for AT LEAST 12 minutes, often up to 20. Keep an eye on it, Jen. Let me know how round 2 goes!
Jen says:
Sep 12, 2012
Pesto. I need this. I need this so much. Make me food, please?
Tafino says:
Aug 27, 2012
I love pizza & pesto, I even use Pesto for Pasta.
I will try for sure, and I think you are so right about ”when you only have a few ingredients in a dish, make the ones you use are as fresh as possible”.
Thanks for sharing!!
Stephen says:
Sep 3, 2012
Thanks so much! It’s so important to use fresh, quality ingredients for the best possible flavor. Keep cooking! :)