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Lemony Brussels Sprout Pignoli Pizza

This combination of flavors has been my current go-to: bright bursts of lemon zest, slightly charred and crispy Brussels sprouts, bitter radicchio and toasted bits of pignolis (aka Diamond of California pine nuts). Sometimes I'll add prosciutto (which is heaven) and other times sun-dried Kalamata olives (which I can't get enough of).
5 from 1 review
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Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian, Pizza
Keyword: Pizza, Italian, Dinner, Pizza Dough, Pine Nuts, Pignoli, Brussels Sprouts
Servings: 3 large or 6 small pizzas

Ingredients

For the Pizza Dough

  • 12 ounces (340 g) light-flavored beer or water ( see note)
  • 4 teaspoons (12 g) dry yeast
  • 4 cups (540 g) all-purpose or bread flour (plus extra for dusting your hands and the dough)
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) olive oil (plus extra for the bowl)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (31.5 g) honey
  • 1 tablespoon (18 g) sea salt

For the Pizza Sauce

  • 15 ounces (425 g) tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons (54 g) olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (9 g) dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons (12 g) sea salt
  • 1 garlic clove (smashed)

To Garnish

  • 8 to 12 ounces fresh mozzarella
  • 1 ½ cups Brussels sprouts (thinly sliced)
  • 1/3 cup radicchio (coarsely chopped)
  • ¼ cup lemon zest (thinly sliced)
  • 2 ounces parmesan (finely shredded)
  • 1/3 cup pignolis (pine nuts, lightly toasted)
  • Olive oil to drizzle over the top
  • Parsley or other fresh herbs to sprinkle of the top
  • Dried chili pepper flakes

Instructions

For the Pizza Dough

  • In an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough attachment add the beer and yeast and let sit for 15 minutes until it’s foamy and frothy. Add in your flour, olive oil, honey and salt and knead on medium-high for about 15 minutes. In the beginning the dough will stick to the bottom of the mixer…as it continues to knead it will start to form a smooth and elastic dough ball.
  • When you’re ready to get it out of the bowl, lightly flour your hands and sprinkle the dough with flour to help get it out. It will be a bit oozy. That’s ok. Lightly oil a large bowl with olive oil, set the dough inside, turning to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl lightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and set in a warm spot for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until double in size.

For the Pizza Sauce

  • In a small glass bowl mix together tomato sauce, olive oil, oregano, sea salt and smashed garlic. Set aside.
  • Once your dough has doubled in size, separate it into three or six equal-size dough balls (whichever you prefer, depending on how many pizzas you want to make) and set on parchment paper that’s been lightly dusted in flour. Lightly dust the top of the dough balls with flour as well. Loosely cover with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let sit for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until double in size. Once they’ve doubled in size, shape each ball into a disc…gently stretching into a round shape…don’t go for perfect, that’s part of the charm of homemade pizza. You may need to use a wee bit of flour to keep it from sticking. Set the shaped pizza dough on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
  • Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F and make sure you have a rack in the top third of the oven, at least 6-inches from the heat source.

To Assemble

  • Put about three tablespoons of pizza sauce on each pizza, leaving a 1-inch gutter around the edge that is sauce free. Sprinkle with some mozzarella (don’t overdo it), add the brussels sprouts, raddichio, lemon zest, sprinkle with some parmesan, pignolis and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Bake the pizza on the parchment-covered baking sheet on the top rack of the oven for 13-15 minutes until bronzed and charred in spots. Let sit for at least five minutes before cutting into the pizzas…you want the cheese to firm up a bit. Sprinkle with some fresh herbs and/or dried chili pepper flakes and eat.

Notes

**Set the unopened beer bottle in a bowl of very warm water for about 10 minutes before mixing with the yeast. The water should feel very warm to the touch. This should make it the perfect temp to activate the yeast.
Thanks for baking with me! Please rate + comment this recipe and tag me on social @displacedhousewife #displacedhousewife so I can see your beautiful treats! xo