Have you ever ordered pizza online? I haven’t.
Let me explain.
Up to the age of 26 I never ate pizza. Yes, that statement is correct. Read it again. Up to the age of 26 I never ate pizza.
When I was at kids’ parties and pizza was served, I ran in the opposite direction. Once at a sleepover my friend’s mother ordered pizza as a treat for us. Quietly terrified beyond belief I barely touched it and made up some lame excuse that “pizza fills me up quickly” and went to bed hungry instead. When my boyfriend drove with pizza takeaway in the car, I stuck my head out of the window because I couldn’t stand the stench. I still can’t.
Why hello, my name is Michelle and I suffered from pizzaphobia.
So what changed? How did I start eating pizza?
What it came down to was the fear of the unknown. A concoction of exotic ingredients unfamiliar to me placed on some dough had me running for the door. Once I actually started cooking from scratch and became more adventurous with trying out new ingredients, I realised I could finally put my very own pizza together, which I did, and what a revelation it was!
Steering away from savoury tomato-based pizza, I decided to prepare something entirely new. A sweet pizza. Here’s the terrific recipe from one of my favourite books of the year so far, Leila Lindholm’s One More Slice. Every bite is worth all the effort!
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Pear Pizza with Stilton & Walnuts
- Total Time: 1 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4
Description
Ditch the tomato sauce on your pizza and opt for something sweet instead.
Ingredients
- 7.5g (¼ oz) fresh yeast
- 150ml (5 fl oz) lukewarm water
- 5ml (1 tsp) sugar
- 2.5ml (½ tsp) sea salt
- 15ml (1 tbsp) olive oil
- 37.5g (1½ oz) durum wheat flour
- 200g (7 oz) strong bread flour
- 250g (9 oz) ricotta cheese
- 4 large pears, thinly sliced
- 300g (10 oz) Stilton cheese, crumbled
- 50g (2 oz) walnuts, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Crumble the yeast in a bowl and dissolve in the water. Add the sugar, salt and olive oil.
- Add the two flours a little at a time and knead the dough in a mixer for around 10 minutes, until it is elastic. [You can also knead the dough by hand.]
- Sprinkle a little flour over the dough, cover with a cloth and leave to rise in the bowl for about 45 minutes, until it is double in size. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 250°C (fan 230°C/500°F/gas 10).
- Divide the dough into 8 and roll each one out thinly on a floured surface.
- Spread a layer of ricotta on every pizza.
- Distribute the pears over the pizzas.
- Crumble the Stilton over the pears, and then sprinkle over the chopped walnuts.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 5-10 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Serve as a cheesy dessert or with the cheese tray.
- The following types of blue cheese will work well in this recipe: stilton, roquefort, cambozola, cashel blue, danish blue cheese, dolcelatte and gorgonzola.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 382.2
- Calories: 838
- Sugar: 17.8 g
- Sodium: 997 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 25.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 67.3 g
- Fiber: 10.1 g
- Protein: 36.5 g
- Cholesterol: 112 mg
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Marisa
No pizza? You must’ve been one strange child. 😉 These photos though – absolutely breathtaking. And you know I’m always up for a bit ‘o stinky cheese.
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours
Michelle,
Those photos are amazing! Beautifully styled. Bravo!
julia
this looks way way delicious and lovely. your blog rocks and i think you are great. now off to make this pizza!
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets
Gorgeous and fabulous sounding pizza! Would like to feature this on my weekly favorites post next week — hope that’s ok with you =).
Heidi @ Food Doodles
That looks so delicious! I’ve never had anything like this but it looks great 🙂
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
These pictures look fantastic, and so individual. I’m wondering if you have tried making gluten free pizza base?
Beth
Pizzaphobia – my goodness. Mind you I didn’t really start eating pizza until I was Uni (not sure why). This pizza sounds amazing – great flavours
Jeanne @ CookSister!
You loon! Pizza is one of the basic food groups! ;o) Seriously, I grew up adoring pizza and haven’t stopped since – glad that you’ve joined the club! Love the flavours in this recipe – and great pics as always 🙂
Sanjeeta kk
Pears in Pizza! Now that sounds exciting to give a try..what lovely clicks, Michelle.
Brian @ A Thought For Food
How marvelous does this look? I have done a similar pizza with a honey wheat pizza dough and now you’ve reminded me that i have to make it again.
PeachFreeman
I am accustomed to the tomato sauce pizza, but this pizza looks absolutely delicious!! this is one new recipe that i will have to try and soon. great photography!!
Pudding Pie Lane
I found your site thorough 6 bittersweets, and I love this recipe! I used to hate pizza too, everytime my friends had it I’d peel off the topping and eat the bread base. Now I like it but I want to try this 🙂
jacquelyn | lark + linen
I’m trying a similar version of this tonight! It looks so delicious
Harini
I don’t think I have visited you before! This looks delicious. The pictures are great!
Saira
I really like this recipe and will have to try it soon.
Great photography as well makes them more tempting
Saira
I really like this recipe and will have to try it soon.
Great photography as well makes them more tempting
Fiver Feeds
I never tried anything like this before! It really looks delicious, I bet it tastes as well!
Renil M. George
I love both pear pizza and walnuts.
★★★★★
michelle
I love any type of pizza 🙂 hehe
Thalia
Pears and pizzas? Sounds very strange but looks delicious. Im gonna give this a go!