Tagged:  pizza

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 12 to 15 minutes

Need a fresh pizza with fresh ingredients in minutes? Simply pick up some readymade pizza dough, Arugula, onions and a bell pepper. Add a few herbs and olive oil.

Then, walk out of your 3-Michelin-star kitchen wearing a toque or chef’s hat. Serve this Arugula, Onion & Bell Pepper Pizza, and you’ve just knocked ’em dead!

Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
One Trader Joe’s® Plain Pizza Dough (in refrigerated section of store), set on counter at room temperature for 1 hour
1/2 of a red onion, thinly sliced
4 to 5 green onions, dark tips removed and flesh cut into circles
1/2 of a red or green bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 cups wild Arugula leaves, washed and spun-dry
2 sprigs fresh oregano leaves, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried Oregano
1 tablespoon thyme leaves (stripped from their stems)
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450°F.

2. Spread about 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil on a 12X18-inch rectangular baking sheet; set aside.

3. Place the pizza dough on the oiled baking sheet. With oiled fingers, gently extend the dough by pressing in its center with your fingertips – take care not to tear the dough.

4. Continue extending the dough until it covers entire surface of baking sheet.

5. Drizzle remaining olive oil evenly over dough.

6. Place onions, bell pepper, Arugula leaves, oregano and thyme leaves evenly over dough.

7. Sprinkle salt and pepper, to taste.

8. Set the baking sheet with assembled pizza on a rack positioned in center of oven.

9. Bake the pizza for 7 to 8 minutes.

10. After 7 to 8 minutes, lower oven temperature to 400°F.

11. Bake the pizza for an additional 5 to 6 minutes or until bottom of crust looks golden brown when lifted with a spatula.

12. Serve the pizza hot with your favorite red or white wine.
Text & Photograph ©2016 Nancy DeLucia Real

For this vibrant pizza, you already know that I’m an advocate of pre-made pizza dough from Trader Joe’s® refrigerated section. It’s delicious, fast and easy.

These pizzas are perfect for that Halloween party you’ve been planning. Make a few of these pizzas (by doubling or tripling the recipe) in minutes. You’ll surely please all the spooks and zombies out there.

Have fun and stay safe on Halloween.

Active prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 13 to 15 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
One 16-ounce Trader Joe’s® plain, refrigerated pizza dough
3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 large yellow tomato, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
6 red grape tomatoes, cut in half
6 yellow grape tomatoes, cut in half
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 to 12 fresh basil leaves

1. Preheat oven to 450ºF.

2. Using a pastry brush or your fingers, spread the vegetable oil evenly on a 16-inch round  or 12 X 16-inch rectangular baking sheet.

3. Place the dough over the oiled sheet and flatten slightly.

4. Flip the dough over and begin stretching the dough gently with fingertips until it fits into sides of the baking sheet.

5. Brush the dough with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.

6. Arrange the shredded mozzarella evenly over pizza dough.

7. Follow with the yellow tomato rounds, red and yellow grape tomatoes.

8. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper and remaining olive oil and top the pizza with basil leaves.

9. Place sheet with pizza on a rack positioned in upper third of oven and bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until the crust edges begin to turn light golden.

10. Transfer the pizza to bottom rack and bake an additonal 4 to 5 minutes or until bottom of pizza is golden brown.

Serve immediately.

Wine paring suggestion: Pinot Grigio (white).

Text and Photograph ©2012 Nancy DeLucia Real

ENTER OUR KITCHEN, WATCH & LEARN

If you’re not in the mood to make pizza, go and enjoy it at your favorite Italian restaurant.

By popular demand, I’m sharing my recipe for pear and gorgonzola pizza. And, all you need is pizza dough, pears, gorgonzola, mozzarella and oil. The best part is that all the ingredients (including premade dough) can be found at Trader Joe’s® stores. Prepare this pizza in less than 15 minutes.

Prep time: 10 to 15 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6 (as an appetizer)

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
One 16-ounce Trader Joe’s® plain, refrigerated pizza dough
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 to 1-1/2 large ripe pears (any variety), peeled, quartered, cored and cut into 1/16-inch thick slices
1/2 to 3/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese*
1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 450ºF.

2. Using a pastry brush or your fingers, spread the vegetable oil evenly on a 12 X 16-inch rectangular or 16-inch round baking sheet.

3. Place the dough over oiled sheet and flatten slightly.

4. Flip the dough over and begin stretching the dough gently with fingertips until it fits into sides of baking sheet.

5. Brush the dough with olive oil. Arrange the pear slices evenly over dough, followed by the gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses.

6. Place sheet with pizza on a rack positioned in upper third of oven and bake 10 to 11 minutes or until cheese begins to turn light golden.

7. Transfer the pizza to bottom rack and bake an additonal 4 to 5 minutes or until bottom of pizza is golden brown.

Serve the pizza hot with a green salad.

Wine suggestion: Cabernet Sauvignon

*Note: When assembling the pizza, use the lesser amount of the cheeses. If you are a cheese fanatic, feel free to add more.

Text & Photograph ©2011 Nancy DeLucia Real