BROCCOLI RABE PIE

Broccoli Rabe Pie image

This unique spin on a traditional pizza from from Jim Lahey, author of "My Pizza," features creamy bechamel sauce, provolone cheese, and slightly bitter broccoli rabe.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes one 10- to 12-inch pizza

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

Fine sea salt
5 stalks broccoli rabe, tough ends trimmed, coarsely chopped
All-purpose flour
1 ball Quick Basic Pizza Dough
1/4 cup Jim Lahey's Bechamel Sauce
1 medium clove garlic, chopped
1 ounce provolone cheese, shredded
1 1/2 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into 5 clumps
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh Thai pepper, stemmed; seeds removed for less heat, if desired

Steps:

Place a pizza stone in a gas oven on a rack about 8 inches from the broiler. Preheat oven on bake at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Switch to broil for 10 minutes. If broiler is on the bottom of the oven, place stone in broiler and preheat on low for 20 minutes; increase heat to high and heat 5 minutes more. If using an electric oven, place stone on a rack about 4 inches from the top heating element; preheat on bake at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Open oven door a few inches and leave ajar about 30 seconds. Close and switch to broil for 10 minutes.
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat; immediately reduce to a simmer and add broccoli rabe. Cook for 10 seconds; drain and set aside.
Generously flour dough, hands, and work surface. Press dough down and gently stretch it out to 6 to 8 inches. Very carefully continue the process, massaging it into a round disk of 10 to 12 inches, shaping with the palms of your hands and your fingers; you want some of the bubbles to remain in the dough. It should look slightly blistered. Flour a pizza peel and lift dough onto the center.
Spoon bechamel over surface of dough and spread evenly, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle surface with garlic and provolone. Evenly distribute mozzarella over top. Cover with broccoli rabe and sprinkle with Thai pepper and a pinch of salt.
Using quick, jerking motions, slide pizza onto stone. Broil until top is bubbling and crust is nicely charred but not burned, about 3 1/2 minutes for gas and about 5 1/2 minutes for electric. Transfer pizza to serving platter; slice and serve immediately.