Heirloom Tomato Summer Pizza Recipes

HEIRLOOM-TOMATO PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone on floor of gas oven (remove racks) or bottom rack of electric oven. Preheat oven to at least 500 degrees for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine tomatoes and oil; season with salt and pepper. Let stand 1 hour.
• Arrange cheese evenly over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with tomatoes, oregano, and guanciale.
• Switch oven to broiler setting. Align edge of peel with edge of stone. Tilt peel, jerking it gently to move pizza. When edge of pizza touches stone, quickly pull back peel to transfer pizza to stone. (Do not move pizza.) Broil until bubbles begin to form in crust, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce temperature to 500 degrees; bake until crust is crisp and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes more. (If not using broiler, bake pizza 10 to 15 minutes total.) Remove pizza from oven using peel. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with basil. Slice and serve.

PESTO-HEIRLOOM TOMATO PIZZA

Steps:

• Combine the first five ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the mixture is evenly combined yet still coarse in texture. You may need to add the spinach in batches if your processor has a small or medium-size container.
• Stop the machine and season the mixture gently with salt and pepper; taste to see if you'd like to add more lemon juice, then pulse a few times to mix.
• Bake pizza dough rounds in a preheated 425°F oven for 15 minutes, until crust is golden.
• Spread pizza crust with pesto, then load up with sliced heirloom tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and top with plenty of thinly sliced basil leaves. Some Vegan Parmesan-style cheese and fresh oregano leaves would add a nice touch, too. This can be served at room temperature.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SUMMER PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll dough out on a floured surface to a 10- to 12-inch circle. Sprinkle cornmeal over center of a large baking sheet or in a 12-inch pizza pan; transfer dough to baking sheet.
• Open bottle of Carapelli. Pour out a little bit into a plate for dipping while you cook. Yum.
• Brush 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil evenly over dough. Spread pizza sauce evenly over dough to 1/2 inch from edge. Top with cheese and prosciutto. Maybe hold some cheese and prosciutto aside too. You know, for snacking.
• Slice tomatoes thinly; shake each slice to discard excess seeds and juices. Arrange in a single layer over cheese.
• Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown and cheese is melted. Meanwhile, place arugula in a small bowl. Drizzle remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil over arugula; toss to coat. Sprinkle over pizza just before serving.

OVEN-DRIED HEIRLOOM TOMATO PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone (available at most kitchen-supply stores) on floor of a gas oven (remove racks) or bottom rack of electric oven. Preheat oven to at least 500 degrees for 1 hour.
• Shape dough into a round. Holding top edge of dough round in both hands, let bottom edge touch work surface. Carefully move hands around edge to form a circle, as if turning a wheel. Hold dough on back of your hand, letting its weight stretch it into a 12-inch round. Transfer dough to a pizza peel (or an inverted baking sheet) lightly dusted with semolina flour. Press out edges using your fingers. Jerk peel; if dough sticks, lift, and dust more flour underneath.
• Drizzle olive oil over pizza dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange cheese evenly over olive oil. Top with tomatoes and basil; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oven to broil. Align edge of peel with edge of stone. Tilt peel, jerking it gently to move pizza. When edge of pizza touches stone, quickly pull back peel to transfer pizza to stone. (Do not move pizza). Broil until crust begins to bubble, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce temperature to 500 degrees, and bake until crust is crisp and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes more. (If not using broiler, bake pizza for 10 to 15 minutes total.) Remove pizza from oven using peel; drizzle with additional olive oil, if desired. Slice and serve.