Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Crispy Bacon
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 slices bacon (about 2 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 small onion, peeled, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
- 1/4 cup farmer's cheese
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 6 ounces Pizza Dough, recipe follows
- 1/2 cup grated mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1 package active dry or fresh yeast
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 cup warm water, 105 to 115 degrees F
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for brushing
- Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
- In a medium size saute pan, add olive oil and heat over medium heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the bacon and cook until the bacon is very crispy and all of the fat is rendered.
- Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pan and discard.
- Place the pan over high heat.
- Add the onions to the hot bacon fat and cook until the onions are well browned, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
- In a small bowl, combine the mascarpone and farmer's cheeses.
- Season with nutmeg and black pepper.
- Reserve.
- On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll the dough as thinly as possible, about 14 to 15-inch circle.
- Evenly spread the mascarpone mixture over the dough.
- Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, bacon, thyme, and sauteed onion.
- Bake until the pizza crust is nicely browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove pizza from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, cut into slices and serve immediately.
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4 cup warm water.
- In a food processor, combine the flour and the salt.
- Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water and process until the mixture forms a ball.
- (The pizza dough can also be made in a mixer fitted with a dough hook.
- Mix on low speed until the mixture comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and starts to climb up the dough hook).
- Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer.
- The dough should be smooth and firm.
- Cover the dough with a clean, damp towel and let it rise in a cool spot for about 2 hours.
- (When ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).
- Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each.
- Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball.
- Repeat 4 or 5 times.
- Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute.
- Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 1 hour.
- At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- Yield: dough for 4 small pizzas
olive oil, bacon, onion, mascarpone cheese, s cheese, nutmeg, freshly ground black pepper, dough, mozzarella, parmesan, thyme, active, honey, warm water, allpurpose, kosher salt, extravirgin olive oil
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pizza-with-caramelized-onions-and-crispy-bacon-recipe.html (may not work)