The Magic of Fresh Fig & Walnut Artisan Pizza: Cozy Homemade Recipe

Artisan pizza elevates ordinary ingredients into culinary masterpieces, blending unexpected flavors with rustic charm.

Sweet, plump figs bring Mediterranean elegance to this unconventional pizza creation.

Crisp walnuts add a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with soft, caramelized fruit.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this recipe breaks traditional pizza boundaries with its complex flavor profile.

Seasonal ingredients elevate this dish from simple meal to gourmet experience.

Mediterranean-inspired combinations challenge your taste buds and invite creativity in the kitchen.

Prepare to embark on a delicious journey that reimagines pizza potential.

Fresh Fig and Walnut Artisan Pizza That’s Sweet, Nutty, and Crisp

• Craft Artisan-Style Pizza: Elevate your home cooking with this gourmet-level pizza that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy masterpiece.
• Savor Seasonal Freshness: Celebrate the natural sweetness of fresh figs paired with crunchy walnuts, creating a delightful balance of flavors that captures the essence of seasonal eating.
• Master Slow-Fermentation Technique: Enjoy the complex, developed flavors that come from a two-day resting process, which creates a perfectly textured and deeply flavorful pizza crust with minimal hands-on effort.

What Goes on Top of This Gorgeous Artisan Pizza

• Flour: Key foundation for pizza dough, provides structure and texture.
• Yeast: Essential for dough rising and creating light, airy texture.
• Water: Activates yeast and helps bind ingredients together.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast fermentation.
• Olive Oil: Adds richness, helps develop dough's elasticity and prevent sticking.

• Mozzarella Cheese: Creamy, melty cheese that provides rich flavor and stretchy texture.
• Fresh Figs: Sweet, soft fruit that adds natural sweetness and elegant appearance.
• Walnuts: Provides crunch, nutty flavor, and nutritional boost.
• Fresh Thyme: Aromatic herb that introduces subtle earthy and herbal notes.

• Olive Oil (Additional): Helps crisp the pizza crust and adds additional flavor depth.

How to Bake a Fig Pizza That’s Golden and Balanced

Step 1: Prepare Artisan Pizza Dough

In a stand mixer bowl, blend flour, yeast, and water. Mix thoroughly, drape with a kitchen towel, and allow to rest for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Develop Dough Texture

Sprinkle salt and knead gently for 5 minutes. Pour in olive oil and continue kneading until slightly sticky. Coat a large rectangular container with oil and transfer dough using a spatula. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Create Dough Structure

Fold the dough, reshape into a ball, let rise for another 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.

Step 4: Prepare Pizza Base

Remove dough 2 hours before baking and divide into 6 equal balls. Return to container.

Step 5: Preheat Cooking Surface

Warm the oven to 450°F (230°C).

Step 6: Shape and Top Pizza

• Mozzarella
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Sliced fresh figs
• 6 whole walnuts
• Thyme leaves from 2 sprigs

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Tips to Prevent Sogginess While Keeping Tenderness

• Master the Dough Rest: Allow the dough to develop complex flavors by giving it sufficient time to ferment and rise slowly, which enhances texture and taste.
• Control Moisture Levels: Pat fresh figs dry before placing them on the pizza to prevent excess water from making the crust soggy and ensuring a crisp base.
• Optimize Oven Temperature: Use a preheated pizza stone or baking sheet to create an intense, even heat that helps achieve a perfectly golden and crispy crust.
• Balance Toppings Strategically: Distribute mozzarella and figs evenly to ensure each slice gets a harmonious blend of flavors and ingredients.
• Elevate with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle fresh thyme just before serving to add a bright, aromatic finish that complements the sweet figs and nutty walnuts.

How to Store and Reheat Fig Pizza Without Losing Texture

• Refrigerate Leftovers: Store your fig and walnut pizza in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wrap each slice individually in aluminum foil to maintain moisture and prevent flavor absorption from other foods.
• Reheating Method: Warm pizza slices in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. Place directly on the oven rack or use a baking sheet for crispy crust restoration. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent soggy texture and loss of delicious crunch.
• Freezing Option: Freeze whole or individual pizza slices in freezer-safe containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to preserve original taste and texture.

The Best Sips and Salads to Serve With It

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Elevate the pizza's delicate fig and walnut flavors with a chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, cutting through the richness of mozzarella and complementing the sweet fruity notes.
• Match with Light Arugula Salad: Create a fresh contrast by serving a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette, which will balance the pizza's creamy cheese and provide a peppery counterpoint to the sweet figs.
• Serve with Honey Drizzle: Enhance the pizza's complexity by adding a light drizzle of wildflower honey just before serving, intensifying the nutty walnut flavor and bringing out the natural sweetness of the fresh figs.
• Complement with Sparkling Water: Choose a sparkling mineral water with a hint of citrus to cleanse the palate between bites, cutting through the richness of the cheese and providing a refreshing counterbalance to the pizza's warm, earthy tones.

Ingredient Variations That Keep It Interesting

• Mediterranean Charm: Swap figs with roasted red peppers and add crumbled feta cheese for a tangy Mediterranean-inspired pizza.
• Prosciutto Elegance: Layer thin slices of prosciutto over the pizza after baking, drizzle with aged balsamic reduction for a luxurious Italian touch.
• Sweet and Savory Fusion: Replace fresh figs with caramelized onions and add crispy pancetta bits to create a rich, complex flavor profile.
• Herbal Garden Style: Incorporate fresh rosemary and oregano instead of thyme, sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles for an aromatic herb-infused pizza experience.

Fresh Fig And Walnut Artisan Pizza Recipe

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4.6 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Rustic Italian charm meets modern culinary creativity in this Fresh Fig and Walnut Artisan Pizza. Sweet Mediterranean figs and crunchy walnuts dance atop a perfectly crisp wood-fired crust, inviting you to savor each luxurious, flavor-packed slice.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2.2 pounds/1 kilogram 00 flour (pizza flour)
• 3 cups mozzarella, shredded
• 6 fresh figs, sliced
• 36 whole walnuts

Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2¾ cups/650 milliliters water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1½ tablespoons dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons coarse salt

Herb Ingredient:

• 12 sprigs thyme

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Instructions

1. Prepare the foundational pizza dough by combining flour, yeast, and water in a stand mixer bowl, creating a preliminary mixture that will develop complex flavors and texture.
2. Allow the initial dough blend to rest, covered with a kitchen towel, for 30 minutes to enable gluten development and enhance fermentation potential.
3. Incorporate salt into the rested mixture, kneading slowly for 5 minutes to develop structural integrity and elasticity.
4. Drizzle olive oil into the dough, continuing to knead until the texture becomes cohesive and slightly tacky.
5. Transfer the developed dough to a generously oiled large rectangular container, ensuring complete surface coverage to prevent sticking.
6. Cover the container and permit the dough to rise for 30 minutes, allowing it to expand and develop underlying structural complexity.
7. Gently fold the expanded dough, reshaping it into a smooth ball, and let it rise for an additional 30 minutes to further enhance its texture.
8. Refrigerate the prepared dough overnight, enabling slow fermentation and deeper flavor development.
9. Remove the chilled dough approximately 2 hours before baking to reach room temperature and restore malleability.
10. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions, carefully reshaping each into a uniform ball and returning them to the container.
11. Heat the oven to 450°F (230°C), preparing for high-temperature baking that will create a crisp, golden crust.
12. Gently roll each dough ball into a circular shape approximately 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) thick, creating a rustic artisan foundation.
13. Distribute of mozzarella cheese across each pizza base, ensuring even coverage.
14. Drizzle olive oil over the cheese, enhancing flavor and promoting beautiful caramelization.
15. Arrange thinly sliced fresh figs across the surface, creating an elegant and flavorful topping.
16. Scatter 6 whole walnuts strategically over each pizza, providing textural contrast and nutty depth.
17. Delicately sprinkle fresh thyme leaves from 2 sprigs, infusing the pizza with aromatic herbal notes.
18. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, monitoring closely to achieve a perfectly golden and crisp crust.
19. Remove from the oven and serve immediately while the pizza remains hot and the cheese is magnificently melted.

Notes

• Master the slow fermentation technique to develop deep, complex flavors in your pizza dough, enhancing its texture and taste.
• Ensure dough rises at room temperature before refrigerating to activate yeast and create a lighter, more airy crust.
• Divide dough into equal portions for consistent pizza sizes, allowing even baking and uniform cooking.
• Generously drizzle olive oil before baking to create a crispy, golden-brown crust with rich, Mediterranean-inspired flavor.
• Arrange fresh figs and walnuts strategically to maximize taste balance and create an elegant, rustic presentation.
• Use fresh thyme sprigs sparingly to add subtle herbal notes without overwhelming the delicate fig and cheese combination.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 512 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 820 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg