ROASTED PEPPER, RICOTTA, AND CAPER PIZZAS

Roasted Pepper, Ricotta, and Caper Pizzas image

Categories Bake Ricotta Bell Pepper Gourmet

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 large red bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 large yellow bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 teaspoons yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
4 teaspoons drained capers
freshly ground black pepper to taste
For pizza dough
3/4 cup warm water (110°-115°F.) plus additional tablespoon if necessary
a 1/4-ounce package (2 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Steps:

Make pizza dough:
In a large bowl stir together water and yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour and salt and blend until mixture forms a dough, adding additional tablespoon water if too dry. On a lightly floured surface knead dough about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. (Alternatively, dough may be made in a standing electric mixer. In bowl of mixer make dough as described above. With dough hook knead dough about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.)
Put dough in a very lightly oiled deep bowl,turning to coat, and let rise, covered loosely, in a warm place 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in bulk. Punch down dough and divide into 4 equal pieces. Dough keeps, each piece put in a small, sealable plastic bag and sealed, pressing out excess air, chilled overnight or frozen 2 weeks. If dough is frozen thaw overnight in refrigerator before using. Makes enough dough for four 12- by 6-inch oval pizzas.
Make the pizza:
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Spread bell peppers in a large shallow baking pan and season with salt. Roast peppers in middle of oven, stirring once halfway through roasting, 20 to 30 minutes, or until they begin to brown. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle peppers with vinegar, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Bell peppers may be roasted 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
Increase temperature to 500°F.
On a work surface sprinkled with 1 teaspoon cornmeal roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12- by 6-inch oval and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining cornmeal and dough, ending up with 2 ovals on each of 2 baking sheets.
Spread bell peppers evenly on dough ovals, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge of each pizza. Spoon half-teaspoonfuls of ricotta onto bell peppers and sprinkle pizzas with capers and pepper.
Bake pizzas in lower and middle thirds of oven 15 minutes, or until crusts are crisp and pale golden.