White Pizza from the Cottage Garden

The tomatoes in our garden have finally started to ripen (yipee!) - it seems like they have taken forever this year!  Last night we had three medium-large fresh tomatoes and a bunch of basil ready to use up, so what did I make?  White pizza! 

Basically white pizza is defined as pizza without tomato sauce.  Sometimes you will find the tomato sauce substituted with an alfredo sauce or pesto sauce or just with no sauce at all.  So here is my easy, white pizza recipe and I have to admit, this was so good.  Best to make this recipe when tomatoes are truly in season - it takes the flavor to a whole new level.

White Pizza Recipe

Serves 4 (or 2 very hungry adults)

Ingredients:

1 ball of fresh pizza dough (store-bought or your favorite recipe)

3 medium-large fresh tomatoes

1 large bunch fresh basil

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 cups mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Olive Oil

Garlic salt

Freshly ground pepper

Red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and gather all of your ingredients.

Drizzle a little olive oil onto your cookie sheet and roll out pizza dough.  Don't worry about the way it looks, just stretch it out as much as possible.  I actually prefer a more rustic, organic shaped pizza.

Drizzle a little more olive oil on the pizza dough.  Sprinkle with garlic salt and freshly ground pepper.

Slice your fresh tomatoes and lay them out on top of your dough.  Season with a little more garlic salt and pepper.

Now layer your sliced red onion. 

Next sprinkle 3/4 of your mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pizza.  Place fresh whole basil leaves on top of the cheese.  Finish the top by sprinkling the remaining 1/4 of mozzarella and all of the Parmesan.

Bake on 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until crust appears to be golden brown.

To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and a tiny drizzle of olive oil.  Enjoy!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  I used store-bought pizza dough from Trader Joe's (.99 for one ball of dough), but you could also visit your favorite pizza restaurant and ask for some dough - many of them will sell just a ball of dough.  Or what would be even better, is if you made your own.  Whatever works for your lifestyle and schedule will be perfect!