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Pizza does not always have to be made with tomato sauce, as there are plenty of other ingredients you can use to creatively make delicious and interesting sauces. Think of your favorite foods and how you can use them for making an array of different types of pizza sauce.
For summer dinners and outdoor gatherings make barbeque pizzas using hot sauce or barbeque sauce and top it with shredded chicken and mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
For pizzas with a southwestern flair use taco sauce or salsa in place of tomato sauce and choose toppings such as black beans, refried beans, corn, peppers, chopped chicken or beef, and seasonings like cilantro with Mexican style cheese intended for making tacos. If you prefer Asian cuisine, use a sesame or soy sauce and top your pizzas with shitake mushrooms.
Alfredo sauce is also wonderful for using as a pizza sauce and can be paired with many different vegetables and meats. Ranch dressing can also be used with toppings such as bacon and fresh vegetables.
Alternatively, you can always opt for extra virgin olive oil and garlic with a few herbs and seasonings for rather simple but savory sauces for pizzas.
Cheesy Porcini Pizza Recipe
What You Need
- 2 1/2 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1/2 ounce honey
- 2 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 8 ounces rehydrated porcini mushrooms
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/8 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup fontina cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
How to Make It
With an electric mixer equipped with a dough hook, combine the bread flour, salt, honey, and warm water. Mix on the lowest speed for about 2 minutes. Add the package of dry yeast to the mixture and mix on medium speed for another 5 minutes.
Add in half of the olive oil and mix on medium for another 2 minutes or until the dough is fairly solid.
Divide the dough in half and form into balls. Place the dough in a warm place and cover with a slightly moist towel and allow them to rise until they are about double the original size.
While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit along with a pizza stone.
In a large skillet, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and then stir in the minced garlic. Saute the garlic for about 30 to 45 seconds before adding the rehydrated porcini mushrooms. Saute the mixture for another 2 minutes while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Lightly flour the countertop or table and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. Dust a pizza peel or large wooden cutting board with cornmeal and place the dough on top. Brush the dough with a light coating of olive oil.
Distribute the Parmesan and fontina cheeses evenly on top of the crust followed by the garlic flavored porcinis.
Carefully transfer the dough to the pizza stone inside the oven.
Bake the cheesy porcini pizza for about 12 to 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the crust is a light golden brown color. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top as a garnish just before serving.
Serves 10 to 12.
Pizza is the perfect choice for lunch, dinner, and for feeding a crowd as there are so many interesting but simple ways to make this favorite food. Keep a selection of various pizza recipes on hand so you can make the dish a bit different each time.
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