Description
A delicious broccolini and red onion pizza featuring a crisp thin crust topped with blistered broccolini, sweet red onion rings, a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, and a hint of chili flakes for a subtle kick. Perfect for a flavorful homemade pizza night with a slightly spicy and cheesy twist.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 bunch broccolini, slice thicker stalks in half
- 1/4 of a small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
Cheeses
- 4 tbsp grated parmesan
- 1 3/4 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided
Dough & Base
- 1 batch store bought or homemade pizza dough
- 2 tbsp cornmeal
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- A few pinches of salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 tsp garlic granules
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C) to ensure it's hot enough for a crisp pizza crust.
- Prepare Dough: Allow the pizza dough to come to room temperature, which makes it easier to stretch and prevents it from snapping back.
- Prepare Broccolini: If your broccolini stalks are thick, slice them in half lengthwise. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water.
- Blanch Broccolini: Boil the broccolini for 2 minutes until crisp-tender. Immediately transfer to the ice water bath to stop cooking, then drain and lay out on a kitchen towel to dry.
- Shape Dough: Spread cornmeal on a baking sheet to prevent sticking. Press the dough into a long oval shape, lifting occasionally to ensure it doesn’t stick. If the dough resists stretching, let it rest for 10 minutes to relax the gluten, then try again.
- First Bake: Spread 1 tablespoon olive oil over the dough along with a few pinches of salt, garlic granules, and black pepper. Bake the plain crust in the preheated oven for about 4 minutes.
- Add Toppings: Remove the crust from the oven. Sprinkle evenly with grated parmesan, 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, and chili flakes. Layer the red onion rings and blanched broccolini over the cheese. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Final Bake: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 10-14 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
Notes
- Allowing the pizza dough to rest and come to room temperature prevents shrinkage and makes it easier to shape.
- Blanching the broccolini ensures it stays tender and bright green without becoming mushy on the pizza.
- Using cornmeal on the baking sheet helps create a crispy bottom crust and prevents sticking.
- Adjust chili flakes to your preferred spice level.
- If you don’t have garlic granules, minced fresh garlic may be used sparingly but add it after the first bake to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
