Shaved Asparagus Pizza Recipes

PIZZA WITH SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND ROBIOLA

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 3 cups flour and the salt, stirring until smooth. Stir in an additional 2 cups flour; continue adding flour (up to 1/2 cup), 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until the dough comes away from the bowl but is still sticky.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead with lightly floured hands. Start by slapping the dough onto the counter, pulling it toward you with one hand and pushing it away from you with the other. Fold the dough back over itself (use a bench scraper or a wide knife to help scrape dough from surface). Repeat until it's easier to handle, about 10 times. Finish kneading normally until the dough is smooth, elastic and soft, but a little tacky, about 10 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, about 3 hours.
• Press it with your finger to see if it's done; an indent should remain. Gently remove the dough from the bowl and divide in half. Roll each half into a ball and put on a lightly floured baking sheet. Brush lightly with olive oil, cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes.
• Prepare charcoal in a chimney starter (allowing the charcoal to burn until all the charcoal is covered with a thin layer of gray ash). Add to the grill, creating a two-level fire by spreading the coals out over half the grill bottom, piling them up in a mound 3 briquettes high, and leaving the other half with no coals.
• Stretch and shape each ball of dough into a rough 12-by-10-inch rectangle. Brush one side with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Turn onto the grill, oiled-side down, over direct heat. Brush the top with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until nicely charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip, close the lid and grill another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer the pizza to a baking sheet that will fit on the covered grill. Spread half of the robiola over the top. Return the pizza on the baking sheet to the grill, cover and let warm a few minutes just to melt the cheese. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board. Scatter the shaved asparagus and then the Romano shavings over the top. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter the lemon zest over the top, then the parsley leaves and drizzle with olive oil.
• Repeat with the remaining dough and topping ingredients.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND POTATO PIZZA

Steps:

• Prepare and heat the oven: If you have one, place a pizza stone on a lower rack in your oven. Preheat the oven to 550F or as hot as it will go.
• Precook the potatoes: Mound the potato slices in the middle of a baking sheet. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss together and spread in an even layer with no pieces overlapping. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Let cool briefly.
• Prepare the asparagus: Trim about 1/2 inch from the bottom of the asparagus spears. With a vegetable peeler , shave the spears into long, thin strips: hold a spear by the bud end and scrape down the length with the peeler. Turn the stalk often until you can no longer scrape it. Cut the remaining core of the spear into 1-inch pieces. In a bowl, toss all of the asparagus with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• If not already shaped, stretch your pizza dough into a large circle 12-16 inches in diameter and place on your pizza pan or stone. Drizzle dough with a thin stream of olive oil.
• Slice fresh mozzarella as thinly as possible and arrange in a single layer over dough.
• Using a vegetable peeler shave your asparagus into thin ribbons. Use the entire bunch, as you might only get 3 or 4 good ribbons from each spear. Pile asparagus shavings on top of the mozzarella. The asparagus WILL cook down so you want to use more than you think is necessary.
• Top asparagus with several cranks of black pepper and dot generously with Boursin cheese. (I tend to use 1/4-1/2 a package per pizza.).
• Bake on pizza stone or baking sheet for 15-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing and serving.

ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Trim 1/2 pound asparagus. Cut each stalk in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Form 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough (at room temperature) into an 11-by-15-inch rectangle on an oiled piece of parchment. Top with the asparagus and 1 cup shredded fontina. Slide the crust (on the parchment) onto a preheated pizza stone or inverted baking sheet. Bake at 475˚ until the bottom is crisp, 12 minutes. Top with pesto and red pepper flakes.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
• Remove outer layers of loose skin from garlic bulb. Cut 1/2 inch (1 cm) off the top of the bulb (the pointed end), exposing the inside of the individual cloves. Place cut side up on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with 1 tsp (5 mL) oil and wrap bulb tightly in foil. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes in an oven-safe dish. When cool enough to handle, turn bulb upside down and squeeze out the softened brown cloves. Start the pizza once the garlic has cooled.
• To make the toppings, start by holding the asparagus stalks by their thick woody ends and use a vegetable peeler to shave each spear into thin ribbons. Transfer shavings into a large bowl and toss with oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, roasted garlic, basil, chives and red pepper flakes (if using). Set aside.
• To make the dough, mix together 1/4 cup (60 mL) whole wheat flour and 1/4 cup (60 mL) all-purpose flour in a small bowl and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the rest of the whole wheat and all-purpose flours, wheat bran, flaxseed, pizza yeast, sugar and salt. Add water and oil and mix until well blended. Add the reserved flour as needed to make a smooth dough.
• Turn dough and any loose pieces out on to a well-floured surface.
• Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, approximately 3 minutes.
• Press or roll dough out to fill a pizza pan. Set aside.
• Spread ricotta mixture over uncooked crust leaving a 1/2-inch (1 cm) border. Top evenly with shaved asparagus.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until crust is brown and asparagus begins to char. Cool for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing. Serve.

WOOD ROASTED SHAVED ASPARAGUS, PARMESAN, BREADCRUMBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Trim the woody ends from the asparagus. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the asparagus lengthwise into strips (if using Brussel sprouts, use a knife or mandoline to shave the sprouts).
• In a large bowl, gently toss the shaved asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Pour the asparagus mixture into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and loosely arrange a "nest." Roast until slightly browned and softened, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cubed bread and toss to coat in the olive oil. Allow the bread to toast evenly, tossing often, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the garlic to perfume the oil and bread. Remove the bread from the pan to a cutting board and roughly chop the bread pieces. Toss with the grated Parmesan and black pepper, to taste.
• Top the asparagus with the breadcrumbs. Garnish with more grated Parmesan.