Spring Pea Pizza with Bacon, Ricotta and Lemon Zest
(3)
Read Directions

A Note From feedfeed

 

Recipe and Headnote Molly Adams

Prep time 20mins
Cook time 20mins
Serves or Makes: 4

Recipe Card

ingredients

  • 1 (1 pound) ball pizza dough, store bought or homemade
  • Flour, as needed for shaping dough
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • Olive oil, as needed
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese, strained, or homemade (recipe below)
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas, defrosted
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1 tablespoon snipped chives

Method

  • Step 1

    Preheat oven to 500˚F and place a sheet pan upside down on the middle rack while the oven preheats.

  • Step 2

    Place pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and stretch into a rough rectangle, about 12 inches long, 8 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick. Dust lightly with flour on both sides. Set aside.

  • Step 3

    Place bacon in a cold skillet and set over medium heat. Cook bacon until crisp and fat has rendered, about 10 minutes, flipping the bacon halfway through cooking time. Set bacon aside on a paper towel lined plate to drain, then once cool, crumble into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

  • Step 4

    To the same skillet, add sliced shallots and cook over medium heat until crisp, about 2 minutes. Drain, and set aside.

  • Step 5

    Once oven has preheated, let pan preheat for an additional 10 minutes. Carefully remove pan from oven and place shaped pizza dough on top. Quickly drizzle with olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes and return to the oven to par-bake for about 8-10 minutes.

  • Step 6

    Remove from oven and top par-baked crust with bacon, shallots, ricotta, peas and Parmesan cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with additional olive oil. Season with sea salt and garnish with lemon zest and chives before serving.

Homemade Ricotta

ingredients

  • 1/2 gallon whole milk, not ultra pasteurized
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablepsoon white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • cheesecloth or flour sack, for straining

Homemade Ricotta

  • Step 1

    Add milk to a large, heavy bottomed saucepan. Place over medium heat and cook until the milk reaches exactly 200˚F. Remove from heat and add lemon juice, vinegar and salt. Stir quickly to combine, then let sit for 10 minutes.

  • Step 2

    After 10 minutes, stir to mix well. If curds have not formed, add a little more vinegar and let sit until the mixture is fully separated.

  • Step 3

    Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a tall pot, strain the cheese mixture, then let sit for about 10 minutes if you want a more dry ricotta (like for pizza). Use leftover whey in smoothies, to cook pasta, or to make bread.