Best Niçoise Style Pizza Recipes

PORTOBELLO "PIZZA" NICOISE

Steps:

• Chop the garlic cloves, then sprinkle with some salt and smear to a paste, using the side of your knife blade. Transfer the garlic paste to a bowl and stir in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. Fold in the anchovies, basil, olives, capers and pepper flakes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature while you grill the vegetables.
• Heat a grill to high. Brush the red and yellow peppers with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until charred on all sides and soft, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the peppers to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let steam for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, put the tomatoes in a grill basket and grill, covered, tossing occasionally, until charred in spots and softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Brush the portobellos with canola oil and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides, covered, until a paring knife inserted in the center meets no resistance, 3 to 5 minutes per side. While the portobellos are cooking, peel, seed and thinly slice the peppers.
• Turn the portobellos gill-side up and top each with some of the goat cheese. Grill, covered, until the cheese softens, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and top each mushroom with some tomatoes and peppers. Spoon a generous amount of dressing over each "pizza" and serve warm.

NICOISE SALAD PIZZETTE

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Dust a baking sheet with cornmeal. Set aside.
• For the tapenade: Place the olives, lemon juice, oil, capers, rosemary, thyme, anchovies and garlic in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pizza dough into two 10-inch diameter circles, each about 1/4-inch thick. Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 4 circles of dough from each and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Using the tines of a fork, prick the dough all over. Spread about 1 tablespoon of the tapenade over each dough circle (any extra can be used to top fish or chicken, or mixed through pasta or used as a spread for sandwiches) and place a slice of tomato on top. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until the dough is crisp and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Place the tuna and the olive oil from the tuna can in a small bowl. Using a fork, lightly mash the tuna. Divide the tuna and spoon on top of the cooked dough. Arrange 3 pieces of green bean on top of the tuna and serve.

NIçOISE FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°. Line jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x1 inch, with aluminum foil. Spread tomatoes, bell pepper and onion on foil. Brush both sides of vegetables with about half of the dressing. Bake uncovered 12 to 15 minutes or until onion is crisp-tender.
• Reduce oven temperature to 375°. Remove vegetables and foil from pan. Place bread halves, cut sides up, in pan. Brush with remaining dressing. Top evenly with roasted vegetables, eggs, olives and cheese.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into 2-inch slices.

PISSALADIERE (ONION, OLIVE, AND ANCHOVY PIZZA)

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt together in the bowl of a food processor. Add butter and 2 tablespoons oil. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pulse in enough water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to form moist clumps. Gather dough into a ball; flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill, at least 2 hours.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a heavy, large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme; stir to blend. Cover and cook until onions are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Uncover and sauté until most liquid evaporates and onions are golden, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in capers. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Cool completely; discard bay leaf.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly oil a large baking sheet.
• Roll out dough on a floured surface to an 11-inch round. Transfer dough to the prepared sheet. Crimp edges of dough to form a stand-up border. Spread filling evenly over dough. Arrange olives and anchovies decoratively atop filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is crisp and golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve.