Description
This Blackberry Basil Pizza offers a delightful and unique twist on classic pizza flavors by combining sweet fresh blackberries with aromatic basil, creamy mozzarella, and tangy goat cheese, all drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Perfect for a quick 30-minute gourmet treat that balances sweet, savory, and herbaceous notes in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pre-made pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- Flour for dusting
Toppings
- 1 cup fresh blackberries, rinsed and dried
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) to ensure it’s hot enough for a perfectly crisp pizza crust.
- Prepare Dough: Lightly dust your work surface with flour. If using store-bought dough, let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to become easier to roll.
- Roll Dough: Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch round, making sure the edges are slightly thicker to form the crust.
- Transfer Dough: Carefully place the rolled dough onto a baking sheet or pizza stone. Use parchment paper if desired for easy cleanup.
- Mash Blackberries: In a small bowl, gently mash half of the blackberries with a fork, leaving the other half whole for added texture.
- Season Blackberries: Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the mashed blackberries and stir to combine.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In another bowl, mix the shredded mozzarella and crumbled goat cheese together.
- Add Garlic Powder: Sprinkle garlic powder into the cheese mixture and stir well to distribute evenly.
- Spread Blackberry Base: Evenly spread the mashed blackberry mixture over the pizza dough, leaving about an inch of space around the edges for the crust.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the mashed blackberries.
- Top with Whole Blackberries: Scatter the remaining whole blackberries over the cheese.
- Add Basil: Sprinkle the roughly chopped basil leaves on top of the pizza.
- Drizzle Olive Oil: Lightly drizzle olive oil over the assembled pizza to add moisture and enhance flavor.
- Bake Pizza: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Monitor Baking: During the last few minutes, watch the pizza closely; if the edges brown too quickly, cover them with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the pizza from the oven carefully and let it cool for a couple of minutes to set.
- Add Balsamic Glaze: Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the pizza just before serving to add a tangy sweetness.
- Slice and Serve: Slice the pizza into wedges and serve warm to enjoy the perfect blend of flavors.
Notes
- Letting the dough rest at room temperature makes it easier to roll out and improves texture.
- Using parchment paper under the pizza can prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Covering the crust edges with foil during baking helps avoid over-browning.
- Fresh blackberries provide the best juicy texture, but frozen can be used if fresh are unavailable—thaw and drain well.
- Balsamic glaze can be substituted with a reduction of balsamic vinegar if desired.
