Think cheese pizza is boring? Try changing it up with the more sophisticated White Pizza recipe. An herb and garlic infused olive oil is spread on a pizza crust that is topped with three cheeses for a delicious, cheesy pizza.
We are all over pizza night – some of our other favorites are Buffalo Chicken Pizza and also Pizza Cups!
We have been a pizza making family for many, many years now. One of my daughter’s first favorite foods was pizza. And today, pizza is my youngest’s favorite thing that I make.
But when it comes to pizza night, the kids always choose the same. Cheese for one, pepperoni for the other.
Not that I think there is anything wrong with cheese pizza. Or with pepperoni pizza. But sometimes you need something a little extra.
Like garlic and rosemary brushed over your crust. And then topped with 3 different cheeses. And a little red pepper flake for a hint of heat. This White Pizza (or Pizza Bianca) is one of my favorite pizza night choices.
Yes, this is my kind of pizza night.
Ingredients
Dough: Let’s start by talking about the dough. You can always buy dough, but I urge you to try my recipe for the best homemade pizza dough. It has tons of 5 star ratings, and I really do believe it’s the best pizza dough recipe! Or if you want to start your dough the night before, you can make this artisan pizza dough.
Sauce: This pizza doesn’t use a traditional pizza sauce (one reason it’s called a white pizza) but instead, you brush on a garlic and rosemary infused olive oil. All you need for it are those three ingredients – olive oil, garlic and rosemary. I use fresh rosemary, but if you want to use dry, remember that dry rosemary is pretty strong. You’ll only need about 1/4 teaspoon and you’ll want to make sure you chop it finely.
Cheese: For your three cheeses, you’ll need ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan. I first fell in love with ricotta on pizza when I made this Butternut Squash and Sage Pizza. And now, I really just want to put it on everything! For the mozzarella and parmesan, I like to shred them myself, as they will melt better that way.
Topping: To top it off, I add just a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. You don’t need much – just enough to give a little bit of a kick. (Although I have to admit that if I were making this just for myself, I’d probably lay it on heavier, because I love the spice!)
You could also top your finished pizza off with chopped parsley, if you want a fresh component to finish it off.
How to Make White Pizza
This is pretty straightforward, but here is how you make it!
- Combine your olive oil, garlic and rosemary, and brush that on your crust that has been rolled out.
- Dollop the ricotta over the top, then gently spread.
- Sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese.
- Then sprinkle on the parmesan cheese.
- Top with the red chili flakes.
- Bake the pizza until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
White Pizza Tips and Tricks
- If you are making the pizza dough, you could add in some garlic and rosemary straight to the dough, then just brush on some olive oil before adding the cheeses.
- The easiest way to evenly spread the ricotta is to dollop it onto the pizza then gently spread it with a spoon or a spatula. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
- I just use a cheaper mozzarella that shreds (and melts) easily, but if you are using a fresh mozzarella, you could just slice it and add it to the top of the pizza.
- I like to use parchment paper to make my pizza. That way I use less flour while shaping my dough, and it is much easier to transfer to my pizza stone. If you are using a pizza pan or baking the pizza on a baking sheet, you won’t need to use parchment paper.
- If you like a crisper pizza crust, prebake the crust for about 5 minutes before adding the toppings.
- This actually makes leftovers that are pretty decent. I like to reheat my pizza on the stovetop, though, in a skillet with a lid.
Pizza Variations
While this is delicious just as written, you could always add a few things to take it up a notch, if desired:
- Top with arugula and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice
- Fry up some prosciutto and sprinkle it over the top
- Add sliced mushrooms – or any other veggie you like!
- Sprinkle freshly torn basil over the baked pizza
More Pizza Recipes
Sausage and Peppers Pizza
Blue Cheese and Bacon Pizza
Pesto Pizza
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
Teriyaki Chicken Pizza
Taco Pizza
Mediterranean Pizza
Clam and Bacon Pizza
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White Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough*
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Place a pizza stone in the oven**. Preheat the oven to 450º-500ºF for at least 30 minutes.
- Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper and flatten the pizza dough into a large circle, about 14” in diameter.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic, rosemary and olive oil. Brush the olive oil mixture over the crust.
- Dollop the ricotta evenly over the crust and gently spread it out. Sprinkle on the mozzarella and the parmesan cheeses. Sprinkle crushed red pepper over the top – you only need a little bit – less than half a teaspoon, depending on how much heat you want.
- Bake the pizza in the preheated oven until the edges are browned and the cheese is melted, about 10-12 minutes.
- Cut into slices and serve.
Pauline says
SO GOOD!
Swapna says
Best pizza ever!
Timothy Green says
Shashank says
i loved so much
Shawn says
Tonight was the third time I’ve made this pizza. It is delicious! I like cheese pizza anyway but the ricotta and rosemary take it to another level!