Pizza bianca and pistachio pesto
and a delicious sando with mortadella and burrata
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Full version of this post is here. For more recipes like this be sure to check out the site at www.mosthungry.com
I love pesto, and once I have some made, it’s going on everything. So, this recipe is really just an excuse for me to make something that I can slather in pesto. And, we already know I love pizza, examples of that can be seen, here, here, oh and here too. I’m doing a pizza bianca, or we can loosely refer to it as pizza bianca. It’s very similar to the pan pizza dough recipe I have, but I didn’t add any oil into the dough, even though there is plenty added on top before baking. There’s also less yeast, which allows for a longer fermentation time. I was able to let this rise overnight at room temp and that gives you some more complex flavor and a chewier texture.
As for the pesto, I went for a pistachio version. Mortadella and pistachio is a great combo, and it’s what I was in the mood for, so pistachio pesto it was. This version uses a combo of mint and basil, and has no garlic. It’s delicious and goes great on this pizza bianca, but you can add it to pasta, smother some roasted potatoes with it, or add it to your eggs. You’ll be happy you made it.
Ok, now onto the recipe…
Ingredients
Dough
500 g 00 flour ( ~ 4 C) - all purpose works fine if you can't get 00
7 g salt ( ~1 ½ tsp)
1.5 g active dry yeast ( ~½ tsp)
400 g water ( 1½ C + 3 tbsp)
Brine
3 g salt
40 g water( ~¼ C)
To Top
¼ C olive oil - approximately
The Sandwich Stuff
2 tbsp Pistachio Pesto - recipe is below
3 slices mortadella
2 oz burrata
Instructions
In a large bowl add flour and salt. Mix well.
In a separate container combine yeast and warm water. Mix until dissolved.
Add the yeast and water mixture to your flour. Stir to combine. You don’t need to excessively mix this, just make sure you don’t have any pockets of dry flour, you want everything hydrated.
Cover bowl and let rise for 12-16 hours at room temp.
Coat baking tray with plenty of olive oil. Dump dough onto tray, and stretch to fit pan. Let rise for about an hour at room temp.
Mix water and salt for your brine. Top dough with more olive oil, dimple the entire surface with your fingertip and then pour over the brine. Let sit for 45 mins while your oven preheats.
Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C). Place rack in center of oven. And, if you have it, a pizza or baking stone is perfect for this. Get that preheated too.
Bake pizza for 20-25 minutes. You want the top to be golden and the bottom nice and crispy.
Remove pizza from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before removing from the tray.
To assemble, slice you pizza bianca into squares and split in half. Spread on plenty of pistachio pesto, add lots of burrata (or your cheese of choice) and a few slices of mortadella.
The Pistachio Pesto
with mint and basil
Full version of this post is here. For more recipes like this be sure to check out the site at www.mosthungry.com
When I think of pesto, I immediately think of a classic Ligurian version. The kind with an indulgent amount of fresh basil, lots of peppery olive oil and handfuls of pine nuts. It’s the classic pesto you want to be eating all summer long. But, when fall starts, it’s a slightly different story. Basil looses that intense, intoxicating aroma as soon as the summer heat is gone, and that is when this Sicilian style pistachio pesto enters the chat. There’s still plenty of basil in the recipe but it gets an unexpected hit of flavor from the generous addition of fresh mint and a slightly different texture from the crunchy roasted pistachios.
This version of pistachio pesto is delicious and goes great on this pizza bianca, but you can add it to pasta, smother some roasted potatoes with it, or add it to your eggs. Once you make a batch, it will be going on everything. Trust me, you’ll be happy you made it.
Ingredients
1 C mint
2 C basil
1 C pistachios - shelled and roasted
1 /2 C parm
1/4 C olive oil
1 lemon juiced
Instructions
To make pesto, add all ingredients to food processor. Blend until combined but still has texture. Check for seasoning. If you need to add salt, or more lemon, use your best judgement here.
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