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I've been working on this one for awhile; a fun, unique, delicious pizza - you'll want to try it ............. ASAP!
Candied bacon? Yes, and quite amazing, at that! Your only problem, once you make it, will be saving enough for the pizza! Do try your best though because I have a feeling, this might become your favorite pizza - EVER!
Pesto & Potato Pizza w/ Candied Bacon & Sweet Bell Peppers
1 ball pizza dough (this recipe is my favorite)
8 ounce bag shredded Italian blend cheese
4 ounces small potatoes, cooked, cooled and sliced in ⅛ inch slices
¼ cup small diced sweet bell peppers
¼ cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
Directions:
1. Place pizza stone or sheet pan on middle rack of oven. Preheat oven to 450˚F.
2. Pat or roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately a 14 inch circle. Shape does not have to be perfect. This is a rustic pizza. Place a piece of parchment paper, slightly larger than your dough, on a pizza peel or large cutting board. (The parchment paper will make your transfer of the pizza to the oven infinitely easier.) Sprinkle parchment paper lightly with cornmeal. Fold pizza dough in quarters and transfer to parchment paper, then unfold.
3. Spread pesto over dough to within ½ in of edge all the way around. Brush exposed edges of dough with a bit extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle pesto layer with about ⅔ of the cheese. Lay potato slices on top of cheese and sprinkle lightly with sea salt and just a bit of fresh ground pepper (the bacon has some pepper, too!). Scatter remainder of cheese, then candied bacon over the potatoes.. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let sit for 20-30 minutes.
4. Slide parchment paper with pizza on top onto stone or cookie sheet. Bake for 5 minutes. Lift pizza up slightly with a metal spatula and pull out parchment paper. This will ensure a crispier crust as parchment paper sometimes traps a bit of moisture. Continue baking 3-5 more minutes or until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Watch carefully, at this temperature it's easy to burn the pizza!
5. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Sprinkle with chopped peppers and fresh basil. Serve and enjoy!
Candied Applewood Bacon
Ingredients:
6 slices applewood bacon, cut in 1" pieces
2 tablespoons brown sugar
freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 400˚F.
2. Combine bacon pieces, brown sugar and a generous grind of black pepper and toss to coat bacon with the sugar.
3. Turn sugared bacon mixture out onto prepared sheet pan.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden, stirring every 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the bacon. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to a sheet of parchment paper. Blot lightly with a paper towel to remove extra grease. Allow to cool.
. says
The best food is always colourful and your food looks delicious! Thank you for sharing and can't wait to try!
. says
Looks beautiful and sounds delicious. I love the combination of colours. Good food always has lots of colour. Thank you for sharing!
The Café Sucré Farine says
I'm not sure, Frances but it sure would be worth a try!
France@beyondthepeel says
I'm all over that candied bacon. Do you think I could use maple syrup to achieve the same result?
France@beyondthepeel says
Candied bacon sounds great. I wonder if I could use maple syrup to achieve the same effect.
Natalie says
Drooling just looking at these pics! Wow I have to try this out.
Veronica Miller says
You had me at candied bacon! What an amazing combination of flavors you've created for this pizza!
Allison says
How do you do it? I'm casually going through my blog roll and I see your recipe and immediately not only is my mouth watering but I can SMELL the pizza. You've got blogger magic. That's all there is to it. 🙂
The Café Sucré Farine says
Thanks Claire,
Any type of good smokey bacon would work great for this - I think you will LOVE it! But you might want to wait til after the wedding as it's extremely hard to resist! I don't want to be responsible for any dress alterations 🙂
renee @ Singing With Birds says
Beautiful Chris!
The Harried Cook says
Can I move in with you, Chris? I seriously can't bear to not eat your food... Everything looks SO delicious! This pizza is amazing... Thanks for sharing. Now I will go nibble on some crackers and imagine that it is this pizza... sigh!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
How could anyone resist wanting to eat the whole pizza.
Ambika says
I am a vegetarian but your Pizza crust looks fabulous!! Am gonna try this recipe this weekend!
PolaM says
I'm all about carbs and potatoes and pizza are great carbs! Must be a thing of beauty!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
You know I've never tasted candied bacon but for some reason just reading it I can imagine the flavour. Do you think I could use regular bacon for it? This sure does sound like a winning combination of toppings!
Ginny says
So unique, colorful, and yummy looking. And I am thinking of all kinds of other ways to use that bacon!!! On a cooking show the other day, I think it was Top Chef, they mixed bacon and caramel, and said it tasted really good.
Kim says
When I prepare candied maple syrup bacon, I just can't stop eating it directly from the pan... This pizza looks quite amazing. I would eat a big piece of it!
Patti says
Another awesome-sounding recipe. Absolutely cannot wait to try this!
Thanks for sharing!!
Kelly Mulcair Registered Nutritionist. Content © 2011 Trinity Nutrition. says
Oh My... Yes, Yes, and Yes!! Applewood Bacon... can I submit an application for you to officially adopt me Chris? 🙂
Kelly Mulcair Registered Nutritionist. Content © 2011 Trinity Nutrition. says
Oh My... Yes, Yes, and Yes!! Applewood Bacon... can I submit an application for you to officially adopt me Chris? 🙂
Anonymous says
This is one of the prettiest pizzas I've ever seen.
Vicki Bensinger says
I love candied bacon but have never added pepper to it. I'm sure that adds something very special to the flavor. I can only imagine how incredible your pizza tastes. I will be sure to try this next time I make some. It sounds absolutely delicious!
Lenia says
Your pictures are so promising!This is a divine pizza!!!xxx
Steve @ the black peppercorn says
I have just stumbled onto your blog and all I have to say is WOW - this looks so delicious! I am going to check out some of your other recipes
Jen @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Looks totally amazing! I really need to make my own pizza, I haven't done that yet. I just love the combinations of flavors you used and I just love Canadian Bacon, so much more healthier for you!!