Treat yourself to this easy, cheesy White Pizza recipe ... is so simple to make and so delicious!
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I was looking through my pizza archives recently, and I realized that the last time I shared a recipe was almost two years ago.
As a pizza lover, I'm not sure how that happened ... but obviously, it cannot stand! I looove pizza, and and I'm pretty sure y'all do, too. Plus I make it (at least) once a week, so I've got lots of delicious recipes up my sleeve.
This Ricotta Pizza is a recent favorite, and for good reason: it's cheesy, packed with flavor, and sooo easy to make.
What I really love about this pizza though is its bright, fresh taste. This flavors of this pie are perfect for spring, although once you try it, you'll want to enjoy it year round ... it's that good!
White Pizza
Have you ever had this kind of pizza before?
White Pizza (or Pizza Bianca, if you want to get fancy) is basically pizza without tomato sauce.
There are many different ways to make it, but instead of tomato sauce, the crust is typically topped with olive oil OR some kind of creamy, alfredo-esque white pizza sauce. You'll even see sauce-less pizzas occasionally.
This recipe (which was inspired by my yummy Lemon Ricotta Pasta) starts with a simple olive oil base. There's no separate sauce to prepare, which keeps this pizza quick and easy to make.
White Pizza Toppings
So what goes on Pizza Bianca? There are so many ways to make it, but here are the ingredients you'll need for this recipe:
- Broccoli
- Ricotta
- Fresh Garlic
- Lemon Zest
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- Pizza Dough
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Mozzarella or Another Italian Cheese / Blend
This recipe really is quite basic, so use the highest quality ingredients you can find. That means fresh garlic (nothing dried or pre-chopped), broccoli, and lemon zest, plus good olive oil, etc.
As far as the ricotta goes, any kind works, although I'd recommend part skim or full fat, both of which are creamier and better tasting than nonfat. I used Belgioioso Ricotta con Latte, and it was amazing ... so rich, creamy, and smooth. If you can find it (my local Kroger stocks it), definitely use that.
Hate broccoli? Don't worry, you can substitute it with another veggie, like spinach, artichokes, etc. You could also leave off the veggies altogether for a plain cheese / ricotta pizza.
To keep things super simple, I usually use store bought pizza dough. I'm currently perfecting my own dough recipe though, so look for that soon!
How to Make White Pizza
Now that you know what goes in it, let's talk about how to make this White Pizza with broccoli and ricotta ... it really couldn't be easier.
You'll start by prepping the broccoli, which is as simple as steaming it in the microwave until tender. If you don't have a microwave, you can use a steamer instead.
Once the broccoli has cooked, drain it really well, then blot it dry with a paper towel (or kitchen towel). Season it lightly by sprinkling with a little salt, then set it aside for now.
If you're using another veggie besides broccoli, you can either use it raw or cook it ahead of time, depending on the veggie.
Next, you're going to prep the ricotta. Start by zesting a lemon (I recommend using a microplane zester), then combine that with the ricotta, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season this mixture to taste with salt.
The lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes really brighten up the flavors of the pizza, and especially, of the rich ricotta. So delish!
It's time to assemble your pizza. Start by spraying a pizza pan lightly with nonstick spray (or olive oil). I used a 15-inch pan, but smaller pans work, too. You crust will just be a little thicker.
Use your hands to press the dough out to the edges of the pan.
Tip: if your pizza dough keeps shrinking back on itself, let it rest for about 5 minutes, then try again. Keep repeating this process until the dough reach the edges of the pan. Starting with room temperature dough also helps.
The pizza toppings come next! Brush the dough with a tablespoon of olive oil, then sprinkle it with half of the cheese.
I used mozzarella cheese, but you could also use an Italian blend, or another Italian cheese that melts well.
Top the cheese with the broccoli florets, then dollop the ricotta evenly over the pizza. Don't worry about spreading out the ricotta ... as the pizza cooks, it will spread on their own.
Sprinkle the pizza with the rest of the shredded cheese, then pop it in the oven.
You'll want to bake the pizza for about 20 minutes or until the toppings are hot and the crust is golden brown.
I like to set my timer for 15 minutes. When it buzzes, I check the pizza. If it needs more time, I rotate the pan (so it bakes evenly), then continue cooking until it's done.
Just look at that pie ... doesn't it look delicious?
Well, I'm here to tell you that this White Pizza is even more delicious than it looks. Every bite is filled with so much flavor ... bright from the lemon and creamy from the ricotta. Yum!
It's impossible to stop at one slice, and with a pizza this delicious and easy to make, why would you want to?
White Pizza
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- zest from 1 lemon, minced
- salt
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Place broccoli and 2 tablespoons water in a microwave-friendly container. Cover and microwave for 3 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.
- Drain broccoli well and blot dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt to taste, then set aside.
- Mix together ricotta, garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Season generously with salt to taste.
- Spray a pizza pan lightly with nonstick spray. Top with pizza dough, then use your hands to spread dough across pan.
- Drizzle dough with olive oil, then brush evenly over dough.
- Top crust with ½ of the shredded cheese, then broccoli. Dollop ricotta over pizza, then top with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake pizza until crust is golden, about 20 minutes.
- Slice pizza and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
Loved this Ricotta Pizza?
If you enjoyed this yummy pizza, then you'll also like these recipes:
- Pesto, Feta, and Veggie Pizza
- Summer Veggie Pizza
- Green Pizza ... my most popular pizza recipe!
- Fresh Plum and Gouda Pizza
- Grape, Feta, and Pesto Pizza
- Homemade Deep Dish Pizza
Want more? You can check out all my pizza recipes here. And make sure to try my Lemon Ricotta Pasta, too ... it inspired this recipe, and the flavors are very similar.
What are your favorite pizza toppings?