Broccoli Rabe, Potato and Rosemary Pizza

A traditional white pizza has no tomato sauce. What this white pizza recipe does have is a delectable combination of broccoli rabe, potato, rosemary and garlic. The dough gets a rub down with olive oil and garlic for a gentle infusion of flavor before the toppings are added and baked. The result? A delicious pizza. Apparently, the editors at Food52 agree. They chose my recipe for Broccoli Rabe, Potato and Rosemary Pizza as a finalist in their Best Pizza contest, and after members of the Food52 community voted, it won first place! You can watch Food52 founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, along with Adam Kuban, Managing Editor of Serious Eats and founder of the blog Slice, make and taste the pizza here. Warning: It might make you hungry.

Broccoli Rabe, Potato and Rosemary Pizza

The dough is lightly brushed with olive oil and rubbed with crushed garlic before the toppings are added, taking a cue from bruschetta. The pizza dough is a recipe I have used and tweaked from Alice Waters over the years. Feel free to use your own favorite dough recipe. Makes 2 (10-inch) or 4 mini-pizzas.

2 uncooked pizza crusts (recipe below)

1 large yukon gold potato, very thinly sliced
Salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound broccoli rabe, washed, ends trimmed
1 large garlic clove, minced, plus 2 garlic cloves lightly smashed but still intact
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Rosemary sprigs for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Arrange potatoes in one layer on a baking tray. Bake until edges begin to turn golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
Increase oven temperature to 475 F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add broccoli rabe and blanch 30 seconds; drain. Plunge broccoli rabe into a bowl of ice water. Cool and drain again. Lay in one layer on a kitchen towel to thoroughly dry. Cut in 2″ pieces.
Heat one tablespoon olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté briefly, 30 seconds. Add broccoli rabe and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sauté one minute. Remove from heat. Taste and add more salt if necessary.

Assemble pizzas:
Lightly brush pizza crusts with olive oil. Rub all over with smashed garlic cloves.
Arrange one layer mozzarella cheese over crusts. Top with one layer of potatoes and broccoli rabe. Sprinkle one tablespoon rosemary over each crust. Top with grated Pecorino cheese.
Bake on pizza stone or on tray on lowest rack in oven until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Before serving, sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh rosemary leaves and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

Pizza Dough Recipe:

2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup semolina flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups cold water
1/4 cup olive oil

Stir yeast and lukewarm water together in a bowl. Add 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and semolina. Mix well. Let sit until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Combine remaining flour and salt in another bowl. Add to yeast with cold water and olive oil. Mix well to form a dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead with hands until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Or use a mixer with a dough hook, and knead about 5 minutes. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat all sides with oil. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours. Punch dough down, and let rise another 45 minutes. Divide dough into 2 equal disks (or 4 if you would like small pizzas.) Let rest 30 minutes before shaping. Lightly flour a work surface. Using your fingers or heels of your hands, stretch the disks out to 10 inch shapes.