I was asked to create a dish featuring asparagus for an upcoming event called Asparafest! I used my own favorite recipe for homemade pizza dough and enhanced a recipe I found on the Internet to come up with the following dish. It’s time-consuming, but unique and delicious. I can’t wait for the event to share my new creation!
Pizza Dough:
Ingredients:
1 C. (8 ounces) flat beer
2 Tbls. butter, melted
2 Tbls. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 ½ C. all-purpose or bread flour
1 pkg. (2 ¼ tsp.) active dry yeast
Directions:
1. Mix flour, salt, sugar and yeast together in a large bowl.
2. Combine beer and melted butter, then pour over dry ingredients. Mix with rubber spatula until dough forms into a ball.
3. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
4. While dough is rising, prepare the following toppings:
Toppings:
½ red onion, sliced julienne
2 Tbls. butter
½ tsp. sugar
8 ounces fingerling potatoes
8 ounces asparagus, cut on a bias into 2-inch lengths (tough stems removed)
1 garlic clove, minced
Olive oil as needed
Salt as needed to taste
6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
4 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled
½ Cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
1. For the roasted potatoes: Wash potatoes and cut in half. Toss with olive oil and salt to taste. Place in a glass baking dish or metal sheet pan. Roast at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for approx. 45 minutes or until browned, turning and stirring half-way through. Allow to cool slightly, then slice carefully into ½-inch thick rounds. Set aside.
2. For the caramelized onions: In a medium sauté pan, heat butter over medium heat. Add onions and reduce heat to low. Sprinkle onions with sugar. Cover pan with lid and allow onions to sauté for approx. 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until well-browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Combine the minced garlic with 1 Tbls. olive oil in a small bowl.
To assemble the pizza:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. [If you have a pizza stone, place it on the lowest rack position while the oven preheats. When baking the pizza, place the pizza pan directly on the pizza stone.]
2. Prepare a large pizza pan (12-14 inches) by brushing with olive oil and dusting lightly with cornmeal (to prevent sticking). Roll dough out with a rolling pin until it fits the pan, then press dough into pan.
3. Brush the prepared pizza dough with the garlic-olive oil.
4. Sprinkle the crust with shredded mozzarella cheese & crumbled goat cheese.
5. Scatter roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, and fresh asparagus evenly over crust.
6. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake until crust is browned and asparagus is tender, approx. 18 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and cut into wedges.
Yield: 1 pizza, Serves: 8
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