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Pesto Pizza

By Feng Chen

Pesto Pizza

Pesto Pizza

Fresh pesto. The perfect topping to any pizza. Let Feng Chen (@leopardcrust) show you 3 styles of pesto you'll want to try immediately.

Ingredients

Basil Pesto Recipe 

  • 50g/ 1.8 Oz basil leaves 

  • 2 small cloves of garlic, peeled 

  • 70g/2.5 Oz Parmigiano Reggiano, cut into chunks 

  • 30g/1 Oz Pecorino Romano, cut into chunks 

  • 30g/ 1 Oz of pine nuts 

  • Extra-virgin olive oil 

  • Salt  


Parcel Pesto (makes 200g) 

  • 2 packed cups of parcel leaves, or any leftover leaves 

  • 2 cloves garlic 

  • 40g/1.4 Oz almonds 

  • 35g/1.2 Oz Parmigiano Reggiano 

  • Half a lemon wedge 

  • Zest of half a lemon 

  • Extra-virgin olive oil 

  • Salt 

Pistachio Pesto (makes about 200g/7 Oz) 

  • 100g unsalted raw pistachios, shelled 

  • 20g Parmigiano Reggiano, cut into chunks 

  • 70g extra-virgin olive oil  

  • 3 basil leaves 

  • Salt  

(Optional) For a light green final colour in the pesto, remove the purple skin of the pistachios by blanching them in boiling water for 2 minutes and peeling while still hot.  

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Basil Pesto Recipe:

Step 1:

Wash and allow basil leaves to air-dry on a clean cloth.

Step 2:

In a food processor or blender, combine basil, garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, pine nuts and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to form a paste. You can also do this in a pestle and mortar if preferred.

Step 3:

Gradually drizzle in more extra-virgin olive oil and salt to taste and continue processing until the pesto is the desired consistency.

Step 4:

Store the pesto in an air-tight jar and refrigerate it for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2–3 months.

Parcel Pesto (makes 200g):

Step 1:

In a food processor or blender, combine the leaves, garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, almonds, lemon and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to form a paste. You can also do this in a pestle and mortar if preferred.

Step 2:

Gradually drizzle in more extra-virgin olive oil and salt to taste and continue processing until pesto is the desired consistency.

Step 3:

Store pesto in an air-tight jar and refrigerate it for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2–3 months.

Pistachio Pesto (makes about 200g/7 Oz):

Step 1:

Blend the pistachios with half of the extra-virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, and basil leaves.

Step 2:

Gradually drizzle in more extra-virgin olive oil and salt to taste and continue processing until pesto is the desired consistency.

Step 3:

Store pesto in an air-tight jar and refrigerate it for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2–3 months.

To make the 3 pizzas:

Step 1:

Take 3 x sourdough dough balls and stretch them out.

Step 2:

Take the parcel pesto and spread all over one of the bases. Add fresh mozzarella and gorgonzola.

Step 3:

Take fresh mozzarella and place it over the second sourdough base. Grate over some Parmigiano Reggiano, before adding drops of the basil pesto to the pizza. Add some roasted cherry tomatoes to finish.

Step 4:

Add fresh mozzarella to the base of the third pizza (the rest will be added post-bake).

Step 5:

Cook each of the pizzas in a Gozney oven at 840°F/450°C until baked.

Step 6:

For the basil pesto pizza, once out the oven, add a few basil leaves and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

Step 7:

For the parcel pizza, drizzle over some egg yolk and crushed roasted almonds.

Step 8:

For the pistachio pesto pizza, add mortadella, burrata and the pistachio pesto. Drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil and some crushed pistachio.

Step 9:

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Contributor

Feng Chen

Feng Chen aka @leopardcrust is the queen of making the most imaginative pizzas, famous for their perfect leopard spotted crusts.

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