Description
Cheesy white pizza with garlic pizza sauce combines creamy ricotta and mozzarella on a crisp crust. Fragrant herbs and roasted garlic elevate this Italian-inspired dish, offering you a delightful culinary experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pizza crust (homemade or store-bought)
- 8 oz (226 g) low-moisture mozzarella cheese, grated
- ¼ cup (30 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup (30 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup garlic parmesan sauce
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps (30 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups (296 ml) whole milk
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped (or 3 tsp jarred minced garlic)
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps (8 g) fresh basil, chiffonade
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Melt butter in a saucepan over moderate heat, whisking flour until a smooth, pale roux forms without browning.
- Sauce Development: Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and bubbles gently, then season with sea salt, black pepper, and minced garlic.
- Cheese Integration: Fold in parmesan cheese until fully melted, remove from heat, and allow sauce to cool naturally.
- Oven Preparation: Position rack in center and preheat to 450°F, creating optimal baking conditions.
- Dough Foundation: Stretch pizza dough onto prepared pan, massaging olive oil across the surface and sprinkling Italian seasoning for enhanced flavor.
- Sauce Application: Spread cooled garlic sauce evenly from edge to edge, creating a creamy base layer.
- Cheese Topping: Distribute mozzarella and parmesan cheeses generously, ensuring complete sauce coverage.
- Baking Process: Transfer pizza to preheated oven and bake until crust achieves golden perfection and cheese bubbles with molten intensity.
- Finishing Touch: Remove pizza from oven and garnish with fresh basil leaves for a vibrant, aromatic finale.
Notes
- Master Roux Technique: Whisk butter and flour carefully to prevent browning, creating a smooth base for the creamy sauce.
- Temperature Control: Maintain moderate heat while preparing sauce to prevent scorching and ensure silky texture.
- Cheese Melting Secrets: Allow parmesan to integrate completely, creating a rich, uniform sauce with deep flavor profiles.
- Crust Perfection Tip: Stretch dough evenly and brush with olive oil to achieve a crispy, golden-brown foundation that complements the white sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg