Tuscan Broccoli Pizza Recipes

SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI PIZZA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the basil, 1/2 cup of the olive oil, the salt and tomato puree. Stir together until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to marry.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Place a rack on the highest level and leave space on the bottom of the oven for easy access.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the sausage and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon to form bite-size pieces, until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the broccoli to the pan and stir to mix with the sausage. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Dust an upside-down rimmed baking sheet with the flour. Gently stretch the pizza dough and place on the dusted tray. Continue to stretch out to 1/4-inch thick leaving it a little thicker around the edges. Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the dough and top with the mozzarella. Spread the sausage and broccoli evenly over the crust and top with the Parmesan. Place the sheet tray directly on the bottom of the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Move the tray to the top shelf and finish cooking until golden brown and the crust is cooked, 5 minutes.

BROCCOLI PIZZA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place broccoli florets into a food processor and pulse until broccoli is riced. Transfer to a clean paper towel and squeeze out as much water as possible.
• Place broccoli "rice", mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, bread crumbs, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes into a large bowl and mix until well combined. Separate into 4 equal golf ball-sized balls. Shape carefully into 4 individual-sized crusts. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the bottom is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Flip crusts and continue to bake until other side is golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes more.

TUSCANY INDIVIDUAL PIZZAS

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of oven and preheat to 500 degrees F. for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let stand for 10 minutes. Traditional method: Put 1 1/2 cups of the flour, semolina sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. While stirring with a wooden spoon slowly add the yeast mixture until combined. Add the olive oil and continue stirring until the mixture forms a loose ball, adding the remaining 1/4 cup of flour if necessary to form a ball that is not sticky. On a lightly floured board knead the dough for 3 to 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and consistent in texture.
• Food Processor method: With the metal blade inserted, put the flour, semolina, sugar and salt into the work bowl. With the motor running, pour the yeast mixture through the feed tube and process for 30 to 45 seconds or until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Add the olive oil through the feed tube and continue to process for 1 minute. The dough should have formed a ball. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly with flour until it is not sticky.
• Both methods continue: Form the dough into a ball and put in a bowl that has been lightly coated with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and put it in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into a cylinder and cut into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place on a lightly floured platter. Cover with a damp towel. Using a rolling pin, roll one ball into a circle. Garnish the pizza as desired. Place directly on pizza stone and bake for approximately 4 minutes (Check after 3 minutes) until ready.
• Continue creating individual pizzas.
• La Margherita Pizza toppings: Top the pizza with a tomato puree made up of peeled tomatoes (use canned tomatoes when good quality fresh are unavailable), olive oil, oregano and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle with grated Mozzarella cheese and lightly drizzle olive oil over the pizza. Add salt and pepper for taste.
• La Napoletana Pizza toppings: Top the pizza with tomato puree and sprinkle with capers, mozzarella cheese and top with anchovies. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the pizza.
• Additional Toppings to add as you wish: Italian Ham, Peccorino Romano Cheese, Red and yellow bell peppers, olives, onions, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese.

ITALIAN BROCCOLI AND PROVOLONE PIZZA

Steps:

• Cook broccoli as directed on package until crisp tender;drain.
• Preheat oven to 425.
• Lightly grease jelly roll pan, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch. Unroll pizza crust dough and press evenly in pan.
• Bake crust 8 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Spread tomato sauce over crust. Top with broccoli, mushrooms, peppers and cheese.
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until crust is deep golden brown and cheese is melted.

WHITE PIZZA WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of your oven. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Stretch pizza dough into a round disc on a floured surface. Brush 1 tablespoon olive oil over dough. Sprinkle minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper on top.
• Cover dough with Italian cheese blend and dollops of ricotta. Scatter broccoli and tomato over cheese. Swirl remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil on top. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over pizza.
• Transfer pizza to the preheated pizza stone and bake until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

TUSCAN PIZZA WITH BASIL CRèME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Follow the package instructions for the preparation of the crust.
• In a small bowl, add rosemary, Italian seasoning, and basil to the creme fraiche. Stir until combined.
• Using a large spoon, place mixture on prepared crust just as you would regular pizza sauce. Leave about 1/2" from all edges.
• Sprinkle diced chicken, green onions, red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes all over the sauce. Add cranberries to the top.
• Sprinkle shredded mozarella cheese over the top.
• Bake in a pre-heated 375F oven for 10-14 minutes (again use pizza crust's directions--the time depends on which crust you've purchased).
• Remove from oven when the bottom of the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
• Slice, and garnish with additional chopped or torn basil, if desired.

TOMATO BASIL VEGGIE PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375° F.
• Unroll both cans of dough into rectangles. In ungreased 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan, arrange dough and press in bottom and up sides to form crust. Firmly press perforations to seal.
• Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, mix sour cream, cream cheese, chopped basil and oregano until smooth. Spread over cooled crust. Top with tomato halves. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Cover; refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle with shredded basil, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE PIZZA

Steps:

• To make the dough, place the water in the bowl of a food processor, add the yeast and sugar, mix lightly, and let proof for about 5 minutes, until bubbles begin to form on the surface. Add the flour, bulgur, all but 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, and the salt, and process for 15 to 20 seconds.
• With the remaining teaspoon of oil, lightly grease the inside of large bowl. Remove the dough from the food processor, shape it into a ball and place it in the oiled bowl, turning it once to coat it with oil on all sides. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the pizza topping. Place the sausages and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a saucepan and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the sliced garlic and pepper flakes, and stir for 10 to 15 seconds. Mix in the broccoli rabe, still wet from washing. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the broccoli rabe is wilted. Add the salt and let the mixture cool, uncovered (to prevent discoloration), until lukewarm.
• When ready to cook the pizza, punch down the dough and spread it out by hand onto an aluminum cookie sheet to create a 12-by-14-inch rectangle, approximately 1/4-inch thick. Arrange the sausage and broccoli mixture on top, spreading it to within 3/4-to-1-inch of the edge of the dough. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil evenly over the surface of the topping, and set it aside at room temperature for about 20 minutes to proof the dough.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pizza in oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until the crust is crisp and brown. Cut into wedges and serve.