Pizza With Caramelized Onions And Crispy Bacon Recipes

PIZZA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, FIGS, BACON AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• At least 45 minutes before cooking, preheat the oven and pizza stone to 550 degrees.
• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the onions, thyme and bay leaves. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onions begin to wilt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and turn a deep, golden brown, about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaves and transfer the onions to a small bowl.
• Place the bacon in the pan and set over high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a small bowl.
• Place the pizza dough on a heavily floured surface and stretch and pull, using your hands or a rolling pin, into about a 14-inch round. Place on a lightly floured pizza peel or rimless baking sheet. Cover with the toppings, careful not to press on the dough and weigh it down: the caramelized onions first, then the figs and bacon, and finally the Gorgonzola, leaving roughly a 1/2 inch border. Shake the pizza peel slightly to make sure the dough is not sticking. Carefully slide the pizza directly onto the baking stone in one quick, forward-and-back motion. Cook until the crust has browned on the bottom and the top is bubbling and browning in spots, about 7 minutes. Drizzle with a little olive oil and some cracked black pepper. Serve hot. Makes 1 pizza.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND CRISPY PANCETTA PIZZA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough onto cookie sheet; starting at center, press dough into 15x10-inch rectangle.
• In large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat; stir in pancetta. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until pancetta is crisp.
• Stir in onions, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook and stir over medium-low heat 20 minutes or until onions are browned, stirring frequently.
• Brush dough with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil; top with half of onion mixture, to within 1/2 inch of edges. Sprinkle cheeses over pizza and top with remaining onion mixture.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until crust is crisp and cheese in center is melted. Sprinkle with black pepper.