Intro

*This post was created in partnership with Chateau St. Jean. We both believe that a proper pizza is best served with a glass of wine. This one in particular, with its robust smoky flavors and an abundance of creamy ricotta pairs beautifully with their Pinot Noir. Be sure to check out their site to get all of our date night recipes and wine pairings. 

 

Do you have that one meal that you always crave? The one that when asked what would be your last meal you respond with the same answer again and again. For me that is a cheese burger. Not just any cheese burger,  it has a soft bun crisped with butter, perfectly salted meat that doesn’t overwhelm the thickly sliced jewel toned tomato and the lettuce that shatters as you bite into it. There are tangy pickles and a sharp sauce that really holds it all together. Gabe’s answer is always pizza.

Marriage is all about compromise right? So when we’re driving around town in between baseball practices needing a quick dinner sometimes it’s pizza and sometimes it’s burgers. Honestly though, I mostly win.

Which is why I’m making pizza for date night because that sweet man of mine will sacrifice his love of pizza for my constant cravings for a cheese burger. But not today babe, today is all about you and this pizza. Which quite honestly isn’t a huge sacrifice on my part because I’m a huge fan of this particular pizza but let’s just continue to pretend that I’m making a concerted effort here.

First we want to roast the bacon and asparagus together so they both get a bit of a head start which in the end will make them roasty and charred in all the right places. We’re taming the smokiness with creamy ricotta and mozzarella and utilizing a trick I learned from our favorite pizza spot here in Seattle, Delancey, by tossing thinly sliced garlic all over dough. The pizza is finished with a flurry of shaved Parmesan. On the side I like a simple green salad with a tart vinaigrette.

If the weather is on your side this a great pizza for grilling.

Bacon, Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza

Prep

Cook

Total

Yield 4

Ingredients

8 ounces pizza dough

1 small bundle fresh asparagus, woody ends removed

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 strips bacon

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

4 ounces fresh mozzarella

3 ounces whole milk ricotta

2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F

Chef 1: Add the asparagus and bacon to a sheet tray. Drizzle on a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper to the asparagus. Roast for 15 - 20 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and the asparagus is tender and caramelized in parts.

Chef 2: Roll or stretch out the pizza to a 10 to 12-inch round. Place on a baking sheet sprinkled with a bit of flour or cornmeal. Drizzle the dough with olive oil then scatter the garlic slices, mozzarella, and ricotta.

Chef 1: Once cool break up the bacon pieces then add the bacon and asparagus to the pizza.

Chef 2: Slide the pizza into the oven and bake until the crust is golden and crisp, about 15 minutes.

Finish with Parmesan.

Chef 1 and 2: Enjoy with a glass or two of Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir.

Courses Dinner

 

14 Responses to “Bacon, Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza”

  1. Zuzu Petals

    Love this…I’m not a fan of pizza with tomato sauce. This combination of flavors (especially asparagus!) looks delicious.

  2. Maria

    My food craving is always tacos… Its my request more times that I can count. Or sweet potato fries. I drag my husband out to happy hour at this seattle restaurant for my fave sweet potato fries! My husband’s is pizza from this local place with the most amazing Neopolitan style crust and delicious locally sourced toppings! This looks delicious, and right up both of our alley’s. Love that you skipped the red sauce! Asparagus on pizza is so delicious!

  3. Jessi

    Wow, amazing looking pizza!!! I have to try making this great recipe very soon!!!

  4. Kelly @ Kelly in the Kitchen blog

    This recipe sounds delicious! Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables and it’s perfect on a summer grilled pizza like this! I also love that you include a wine pairing to go with it. Happy 4th!!

  5. Steff

    This sounds delicious, have to try it sometime.
    PS : add pineapple, you can never go wrong with that.