Best Ricotta Basil Pizza Bread Recipes

FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS

Steps:

• For the base sauce: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Mix together the melted butter, Italian seasoning and garlic in a small bowl. Place the French bread on the prepared sheet pan cut-side up. Brush the butter mixture over the bread.
• For the fully loaded pizza: Spread the marinara sauce over one half of the French bread. Sprinkle over the mozzarella, then top with the pepperoni, green pepper, sausage crumbles, black olives and jalapenos.
• For the garden pesto pizza: Mix together the ricotta, pesto and lemon zest in a small bowl. Spread over the other half of the French bread. Lay on the zucchini slices, peppers, asparagus, corn and finally the goat cheese.
• Bake until the cheeses melt and become bubbly, 12 to 14 minutes. Garnish the fully loaded pizza with the Parmesan and the garden pesto pizza with the basil. Slice and serve.

WHIPPED BASIL RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine ricotta cheese, basil, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and pepper flakes in a mini food processor and process until all ingredients are well incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes.

JIM LAHEY'S NO-KNEAD PIZZA MARGHERITA

Steps:

• To make dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour, yeast, and salt. Add water and stir until blended (the dough will be very sticky). Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 12 to 24 hours in a warm spot, about 70 degrees.
• Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and sprinkle the top with flour. Fold the dough over on itself once or twice, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Shape the dough into 3 or 4 balls, depending on how thick you want the crust. Generously sprinkle a clean cotton towel with flour and cover the dough with it. Let the dough rise for 2 hours.
• To make sauce: Blanch tomato for 5 seconds in boiling water and quickly remove. Allow to cool to the touch. Peel the skin with your hands and quarter the tomato. Remove the jelly and seeds, and reserve in a strainer or fine sieve. Strain the jelly to remove seeds, and combine resulting liquid in a bowl with the flesh of the tomatoes. Proceed to crush the tomatoes with your hands. Add salt and olive oil and stir.
• To make pizza: Place pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat on high broil. Stretch or toss the dough into a disk approximately 10 inches in diameter. Pull rack out of oven and place the dough on top of the preheated pizza stone. Drizzle 5 generous tablespoons of sauce over the dough, and spread evenly. Try to keep the sauce about ½ inch away from the perimeter of the dough. Break apart or slice the buffalo mozzarella and arrange over the dough. Return rack and pizza stone to the middle of the oven and broil for approximately 6 minutes. Remove and top with basil, olive oil, and salt.

FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS WITH RICOTTA, ROASTED TOMATOES, AND PESTO

Steps:

• Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Toss tomatoes, 1 Tbsp. oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tomatoes start to blister, about 13 minutes.
• Place bread, cut side up, on another rimmed baking sheet and bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven and rub cut sides with garlic.
• Dollop ricotta on cut sides of bread. Top evenly with tomato mixture, then sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until Parmesan melts, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk pesto and remaining 2 tsp. oil in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle on pizzas and season with salt and pepper.