Roasted Tomato and Basil Pizza

Submitted by Just Call Me Martha

"This Mediterranean-style pizza is a wonderful change to everyday pizza. It's a great summertime dish to make when basil and tomatoes are in season. Althought you can use prepared pesto, I normally make my own which has quite a hint of lemon in it. Do not substitute dried basil - it just won't work. This would also make a great appetizer if sliced in very thin wedges."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Yields: 8 Slices
• Serves: 2

ingredients

• 4 large plum tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper
• 1⁄3 lb bocconcini, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup prepared pesto sauce
• 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 prepared thin pizza crust, 12 inches (like Boboli)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Slice plum tomatoes into 1/4" thick slices.
3. Arrange on lightly greased cookie sheet.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Bake for 45 minutes.
7. When tomatoes are ready, spread pesto on pizza crust.
8. Top with sliced bocconcini and roasted tomatoes.
9. Bake for 7- 9 more minutes.
10. Then, remove pizza from oven and sprinkle with chopped basil and then parmesan.
11. Return to oven for 2-3 more minutes.
12. (Place pizza directly on middle rack of oven for a crispy pizza; place on pizza pan for a more chewy pizza.) Serve.

Reviews

[BigNanc]

AWESOME! Wonderful and very tasty. I used homemade pizza crust and pesto. I subbed mozzarella because I didn't have the bocconcini. The fresh basil is a must! DH loved it - definitely will be a favorite recipe at our house. Thanks JCMM!

 

[sugarpea]

Very special when made with fresh ingredients and a great crust. Loved it. Wouldn't change a thing.

 

[Marmish]

I served this as an appetizer at a cocktail party. I made my own dough, but followed everything else exactly. It was excellent! The roasted tomatoes are intense and the bocconcini is a nice addition. Definitely use the fresh basil. Very flavorful, but not heavy. Everyone loved it!

 

[ratherbeswimmin]

Fabulous pizza, JCMM. I had to learn what bocconcini was from my Italian grocer. For those of you who don't know it is bite-sized rounds of fresh mozzarella cheese. So delicious and a wonderful ingredient for this pizza. I also used my own fresh homemade pesto and pizza crust (I was feeling adventurous today). I also used fresh tomatoes and basil. I would characterize this as one incredible flavor explosion. One of the best dang pizzas I have ever tasted. Thanks for sharing this recipe.