Fig and goat cheese pizza provides an irresistible blend of mildly sweet, refreshing, and tangy flavors that pair it seamlessly with watercress salad, a crisp Toscano Dogajolo Bianco, and summertime festivities. That the tang comes from goat cheese and not a citrus fruit is a palate-pleasing twist.
Pizza Crust Ingredients
- 1 cup sourdough starter, unfed - make sure to stir it to remove the liquid on top
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 and 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- cornmeal (optional)
Pizza Toppings Ingredients
- 1 thinly sliced small sweet onion
- 6 fresh figs, halved
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 ounces goat cheese
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp chopped rosemary
- 1/2 cup shredded mozarella cheese
- extra virgin olive oil
Preparation for Fig & Goat Cheese Pizza
Caramelize your onion slices - just sautee them in olive oil until they are a light caramel color. Set aside and allow them to cool.
Make your crust. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sourdough starter with your remaining ingredients. Then knead it in a mixer for about seven or eight minutes. The dough should be a little sticky, wrapping around your dough hooks.
If you do not have a mixer, you can knead by hand. Grease a clean bowl and place your dough in it, turning it once. Cover and let the dough rise until it doubles. This will take two to four hours.
Oil a 14-inch pizza pan or an 18-inch x 13-inch sheet pan. You can also line the pan with about a tablespoon of cornmeal to give the crust an interesting crumbly texture. Press the dough evenly in the pan to the edges and allow it to rest covered for 15 minutes. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check again that your dough goes all the way to the edges of the pan. Arrange your figs, goat cheese, and onions evenly atop your dough. The figs should be placed with the cut sides up. Bake your pizza for 10 to 15 minutes. The crust should be golden brown.
Remove your pizza from the oven and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and herbs over your toppings. Bake for an additional seven to 10 minutes until the mozzarella cheese is melted. Brush lightly with olive oil before serving.
This pizza is perfect for grilling also. Simply oil one side of the crust and place it on a medium-high oiled grill grate. Cook the crust for five minutes then flip it. Spread olive oil on the new side up. Arrange your figs, onions, and goat cheese. Add your mozzarella cheese, rosemary, and thyme. Just cook your pizza for two more minutes.
Best Wine Pairing: Dogajolo Toscano Bianco IGT
