What’s more comforting than pizza?  We love pizza in our home and tonight decided to make a prosciutto and caramelized onion pizza.  I buy my pizza dough at Trader Joe’s.  It comes in a few different types – regular, wheat and garlic and herb.  We used the regular tonight.  If you don’t live near a Trader Joe’s, you can most likely find pizza dough at your local grocer and, sometimes, a pizza restaurant will sell you dough.  I have bought it at a pizza restaurant in Solana Beach for only $1.25, not bad!

I started by setting my dough out to rise.  I took the dough from the bag and set it on a bread board with about 1/8 cup of flour so it didn’t stick to the board.  While the dough was rising – this takes a half hour – I started to caramelize my red onion in butter and olive oil. While this was happening, I tore three slices of prosciutto into small pieces and set aside. I prepared my pizza pan by drizzling it with a small amount of olive oil and sprinkling the pan with corn meal. I like to do this because I like the texture the corn meal gives the bottom of my crust.

Once my dough had risen, I started to form it to fit my pizza pan.  I started by rolling the dough a bit and then placing it on the pan and stretching it out to the full circumference of the pan.  Once my dough was stretched on the pan, I sprinkled it with sea salt, Herbs de Provence, and a pinch of crushed red pepper.  I wanted the flavors to bake into the crust.  I placed my crust in a preheated 425 degree oven for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, I pulled it out and started to build my pizza.  I started with my pizza sauce (Any kind you like is fine, I used Trader Joe’s jarred sauce.  You can find this with the pasta sauces in their store.).   I then added shredded mozzarella cheese.  After that, my caramelized onions went on and then the torn pieces of prosciutto. I did sprinkle a pinch more of the Herbs de Provence on top of the pizza before placing it back in the oven.  I then placed my pizza back in the oven for another 10-11 minutes until the cheese was getting brown and bubbly and I felt my crust was crisp enough.

After the pizza was done, I pulled it out of the oven and scattered basil that I cut into a chiffonade and shaved parmesan.

Ingredients

• 1 package of refrigerated pizza dough

• pizza sauce, 1/3-1/2 cup, depending on how much sauce you like on your pizza

• red onion, half of a medium size

• prosciutto

• shredded mozzarella cheese, half cup

• olive oil, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon

• butter, 1 tablespoon

• corn meal, 1/2 tablespoon

• Herbs de Provence, 1 teaspoon, plus a pinch

• sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon

• basil

• shaved parmesan, 1/8 cup

Directions

Set your dough out on a bread board to rise.  Spread 1/8 cup of flour on the board so the dough won’t stick.  While your dough is rising, melt 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small pan.  Add your sliced red onion to the melted butter and oil and caramelize.  This takes just a few minutes.  As soon as the onions are caramelized, remove from the heat and set aside.  Tear three pieces of prosciutto into small pieces and set aside. After your dough has risen, roll it out with a rolling pin to fit your pizza pan.  I work with the dough a bit on the pan to make sure it is stretched to the edges all around.  Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Herbs de Provence and a pinch of sea salt on the crust.  Add a pinch of crushed red pepper and place your crust in the oven for 10 minutes.  After the 10 minutes are up, pull your dough out of the oven and start to built your pizza.  Start with the pizza sauce, then add the cheese and top with the caramelized onions. After the onions have been placed on your pizza, add your prosciutto.  Sprinkle with a pinch of Herbs de Provence and place back in the oven for 10-11 minutes.

Once your pizza is done, sprinkle with basil and shaved parmesan.  Add a bit more crushed red pepper if you desire and enjoy!

Until next time, Kris