Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 pound pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- Cornmeal, for stretching the dough
Garlic Oil
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
Cheese Mixture
- Heaping ½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese (preferably Belgioioso for creaminess)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Toppings
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, torn
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Red pepper flakes, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: If using store-bought pizza dough, allow it to sit at room temperature for 1 hour to become more pliable. If using homemade dough, prepare according to your recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 500°F (or the highest possible temperature) to ensure a crispy crust.
- Make garlic oil: In a small bowl, combine the extra-virgin olive oil with grated garlic, stirring to blend the flavors.
- Prepare ricotta mixture: In a medium bowl, mix the whole milk ricotta cheese with chopped fresh thyme, lemon zest, and sea salt until evenly combined.
- Stretch and par-bake the crust: Lightly dust a baking sheet with cornmeal to prevent sticking. Place the pizza dough on the baking sheet and stretch it into a large circle or oval shape. Use a fork to poke holes throughout the dough to prevent bubbling during baking. Par-bake the crust for 5 minutes.
- Dock the crust again: Remove the crust from the oven and use the fork to poke holes again, releasing any trapped air bubbles to maintain an even crust.
- Assemble the pizza: Brush the garlic olive oil evenly over the par-baked crust. Dollop the ricotta mixture onto the center of the dough and spread thinly, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Next, scatter torn mozzarella over the top, followed by a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese.
- Bake the pizza: Return the pizza to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the crust is beautifully browned and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle fresh basil leaves and red pepper flakes over the pizza. Slice and serve immediately with your favorite salad.
Notes
- Letting the dough rest at room temperature makes it easier to stretch.
- Using fresh herbs and lemon zest brightens the flavors of the ricotta cheese layer.
- Par-baking the crust prevents it from becoming soggy under the cheese toppings.
- You can substitute pecorino for Parmesan for a sharper flavor.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste depending on your preferred spice level.
- Serve with a green salad or chopped salad for a balanced meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian