Fig and Taleggio Pizza with Sage and Honey
- 1 recipe Basic Pizza Dough at room temperature
- Flour for rolling out the dough
- Cornmeal for dusting
- 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 12 ounces fresh ricotta
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 12 ounces Taleggio, trimmed of rind and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 12 large fresh figs (or dried figs, soaked in water at least 30 minutes, drained, and patted dry), cut into quarters
- 32 medium sage leaves
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1½ to 2 tablespoons high-quality honey
Instructions:
Use an amber honey whose character will contribute something besides simple sweetness.
- Place a pizza stone on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F.
- Cut the pizza dough into 4 equal pieces and roll into balls. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Using plenty of flour, roll a dough ball into a circle about 8 inches in diameter. Push the crust together to thicken it slightly around the edge for a rim. Or, if you want to use your hands instead of a rolling pin, first press the ball flat with your palm. Starting at the center of the disk, use your fingertips to stretch the dough, working outward; try to maintain an even thickness as you work. Leave the dough a little thicker around the edge to form a rim.
- Transfer the circle to a peel or sheet pan sprinkled with cornmeal. Dimple the dough with your fingertips so it doesn’t puff up during baking. Brush 1 teaspoon of the olive oil over the dough or rub it on with your fingertips, leaving a ½-inch border around the edge.
- Season the ricotta with salt and pepper. Spread one quarter of the ricotta over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Distribute one-quarter each of the Taleggio, figs, and sage leaves evenly over the pizza. Sprinkle with one quarter of the Parmesan.
- Slide the pizza onto the pizza stone and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is crispy, the topping bubbly and brown. While the first pizza is baking, prepare the second.
- Remove the pizza from the oven with the peel, or slide it onto a sheet pan, and transfer to a cutting board. Place the second pizza in the oven. Cut the finished pizza into 4 slices, place in a plate, drizzle with honey, and serve.
- Start working on the third pizza, and repeat the process until you’ve finished all 4 pizzas.