Description
This Blackberry Ricotta Pizza blends the sweetness of fresh blackberries with creamy ricotta, sharp Parmesan, and melty Swiss cheese on a crispy, golden crust. Topped with green onions and fresh basil, this unique savory-sweet pizza is perfect as a delightful appetizer or a light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- One pizza dough recipe (to make one 12-inch pizza)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Fruit and Cheese Toppings
- 1/2 cup blackberries (fresh, smashed)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Swiss cheese or mozzarella (shredded)
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup blackberries (whole)
Garnishes & Seasoning
- 1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place your pizza stone inside the oven if you have one, to ensure a hot surface for baking the pizza.
- Roll Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a floured sheet of parchment paper to a 12-inch diameter. If you don’t have a pizza stone, prepare to transfer it to a baking sheet for baking.
- Olive Oil Coating: Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the dough and spread it evenly with your fingers or a pastry brush, focusing on coating the edges well for a flavorful crust.
- Add Blackberry Sauce: In a bowl, mash half a cup of blackberries with a fork to create a slightly chunky sauce. Spread this over the dough like pizza sauce, leaving out the juice which can be enjoyed separately.
- Top with Cheeses: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded Parmesan and 1 cup of shredded Swiss or mozzarella evenly over the smashed blackberries, reaching all the way to the edges of the dough.
- Dollop Ricotta: Spoon dollops of 3/4 cup ricotta cheese over the pizza in an irregular pattern; it doesn’t need to be perfectly even.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Scatter the whole fresh blackberries and chopped green onions evenly over the cheese layers.
- Season: Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt over the pizza and add freshly ground black pepper to taste, applying your preferred amount.
- Transfer to Oven: Using a flat baking sheet or pizza peel, carefully transfer the pizza (still on parchment paper) onto the preheated pizza stone or place the parchment on a baking sheet if no stone is used.
- Bake: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the top starts to brown nicely. For a crispier top, you may broil the pizza for an additional 1 minute, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven immediately and sprinkle freshly chopped basil over the top. Slice and enjoy your unique blackberry ricotta pizza warm.
Notes
- Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crisper crust but is not mandatory; a baking sheet works fine.
- The juice from the smashed blackberries can be saved and enjoyed as a fresh, sweet drink.
- You can substitute Swiss cheese with mozzarella if preferred.
- Adjust salt and pepper amounts based on taste preference, keeping in mind the saltiness of the cheeses used.
- Broiling the pizza is optional but can enhance the browning and crispiness of the top layer.
