FONTINA, OLIVE, AND TOMATO PIZZA WITH BASIL WHOLE WHEAT CRUST

FONTINA, OLIVE, AND TOMATO PIZZA WITH BASIL WHOLE WHEAT CRUST image

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

Dough:
1 tablespoon honey
1 package active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces), divided
1 cup whole wheat flour (about 4 3/4 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons stone-ground yellow cornmeal
Remaining ingredients:
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 1/2 pound)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fontina cheese
3 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon pine nuts, coarsely chopped
Cracked black pepper (optional)

Steps:

To prepare dough, dissolve honey and yeast in 1 cup warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt, and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper to yeast mixture; stir until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until soft and elastic (about 6 minutes); add enough of remaining all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to keep dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel slightly sticky). Knead in fresh basil just until incorporated. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 40 minutes or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.) Roll dough into a 12-inch circle (about 1/4 inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Place dough on a rimless baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Crimp edges of dough with fingers to form a rim. Lightly spray surface of dough with cooking spray; cover with plastic wrap. Place dough in refrigerator. Position one oven rack in the middle setting. Position another rack in the lowest setting, and place a rimless baking sheet on the bottom rack. Preheat oven to 500°. Remove plastic wrap from dough; discard. Remove preheated baking sheet from oven; close oven door. Slide dough onto preheated baking sheet, using a spatula as a guide. Bake on lowest oven rack at 500° for 8 minutes. Arrange tomato slices on paper towels. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle fontina over crust, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Arrange tomato slices and olives over fontina; sprinkle with mozzarella. Top with pine nuts. Bake on middle rack an additional 8 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese melts. Garnish with cracked pepper, if desired. Cut into 12 wedges.