Made-from-scratch, this asparagus green pesto pizza is a great alternative to your Friday night takeaway! Top it up with your favourite spring produce to create some fantastic flavours and textures!
Hello Friends!
Long time no speak! Excuse the radio silence, I was crazy busy with many new side projects. But I'm back and I have exciting and delicious new recipe for you!
Asparagus green pesto pizza
This asparagus green pesto pizza is a celebration of new season's produce and will set your taste buds on a happy journey to deliciousness. Made from scratch pizza dough, topped with green asparagus, peas and cherry tomatoes plus some peppery rocket and healthy splash of olive oil. It makes great alternative to your traditional takeaway pizza, plus it's much healthier too!
What ingredients do I need to make this asparagus and green pesto pizza?
When making this pizza, you have couple of options available. You can make your pizza dough from scratch, in which case it will take just a little bit more effort. However, feel free to use ready-made pizza dough, the result will be equally delicious!
If you are looking for even healthier option, why not try making it on this vegan cauliflower pizza base?
If you are making pizza dough from scratch, you will need some strong white flour, yeast, salt, oil, milk and water. For the toppings, you will need some green asparagus, green pesto, peas, cherry tomatoes, rocket salad and mozzarella. Additionally, some dried chilli flakes and more olive oil. But feel free to be as creative as you want with your toppings!
Making pizza dough- step by step
Making pizza dough from scratch is quite easy and straightforward. Yes, it takes a bit of time and additional effort, but it's well worth it, plus once you've made a batch of it, you can simply freeze it and have it all ready for the next time!
Start by adding flour, yeast and salt into a large mixing bowl.
Add the olive oil and warm milk to this mix, then gradually start adding the warm water. Mix it all together using a wooden spoon to form a soft dough. Tip the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes or until it becomes soft and elastic.
Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. At this point you can also freeze it. Simply wrap it in some kitchen foil/ cling film and place it in your freezer. Defrost it overnight in your fridge.
Roll the dough gently on a floured surface and place it on the oiled baking tray (or simply line it up with baking parchment). Spread about 1 tablespoon of green pesto on top, then add the blanched asparagus, green peas and cherry tomatoes and mozzarella.
Bake your pizza at 200 C for about 10 minutes or until the dough turns golden-brown. Once it's out of the oven, scatter some rocket, dried chilli flakes and add a drizzle of olive oil.
As mentioned before, feel free to experiment with different toppings in this recipe. You can add some spring onions, mushrooms, or even some wild garlic if you'd like! The possibilities are endless!
As always, thanks for reading and following along! It would mean a world to me if you can leave me a comment and a rating below! Also, if you would like to see what else am I up to, make sure to follow me on my Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!
Asparagus Green Pesto Pizza
Ingredients
For the pizza dough:
- 650 g strong white flour
- 7 g dried fast action yeast
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 25 ml olive oil
- 50 ml warm milk
- 325 ml warm water
For the toppings:
- 4 tablespoon green pesto
- 400 g asparagus
- 100 g green peas
- 400 g cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 150 g mozzarella cheese (sliced)
- 120 g rocket salad
- 3-4 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium lemon (juice only)
Instructions
To make pizza dough:
- In a large mixing bowl mix together flour, yeast and salt. Add olive oil and milk, then gradually start adding water, mixing it all together until it forms soft dough. Turn the dough into a floured work surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Transfer to a clean, oiled bowl and cover with tea towel. Set aside for about 1 ½ hour or until double in size.
- When the dough has risen, knock it back, then knead again until smooth, roll into a ball and set aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour until risen again. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Use straight away or freeze.
To prepare the toppings:
- Place the asparagus in a large pan of boiling water and blanch them for 2 minutes. Cool them under cold water and cut them in half. Blanch green peas in the same way. Set aside.
- In a small jar, mix together green pesto and lemon juice. Set aside.
To assemble pizza:
- Preheat the oven to 200 C. Roll each piece of pizza dough on a floured surface as thin as you can. Transfer into baking sheet lined up with baking parchment. Spread roughly 1 tablespoon of pesto on each pizza base, then top each pizza with asparagus, green peas, tomatoes and mozzarella slices. Bake for 10 minutes or until the base is golden. Top the pizzas with rocket salad, chilli flakes and drizzle with olive oil. Enjoy!
Please note that all my recipes are developed and tested in metric grams. I recommend that you use digital scales for a more accurate results. I have provided a conversion to US customary in the recipe but please note that I haven’t tested using this method.
Notes
- Prep time does not include making pizza dough. Allow minimum 2 hours extra if making the dough from scratch.
- Pizza dough can be frozen. If using frozen dough, defrost it overnight in the fridge.
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Esha
Nothing beats freshly homemade pizza, especially when its topped with pesto. Thats such a beautiful spring Pizza Anna.
annabanana
Hey Esha! Thanks so much hunni! I do like to use seasonal produce as much as possible and pizza is such a great way of doing so! Glad you like it and thanks so much for visiting! x
Bianca Zapatka
This looks so delicious Anna! Love Pesto Pizza!
Such a great Recipe ❤️
Lots of love
Bianca 😘
annabanana
Thanks Bianca! So happy to hear that you like this pizza! I would love for us to share a pizza together!
Ela
It looks so beautiful Anna! I love pizza and pesto! 🙂
Daniela
Yum what a perfect spring pizza!!! Def wanna make this! Thanks so much for sharing :)!!!
annabanana
thanks Daniela, glad you like it!
Eva
Beautiful styling! I love making pizza dough at home, it's so therapeutic. Love the topping as well. So colourful and healthy!
annabanana
Hello Eva, thanks so much for your lovely comment and for stopping by! I couldn't agree more! Baking is the best therapy, and nothing beats homemade pizza with freshest toppings!
Chef and Steward
Nothing better than fresh pizza.. esp when topped with great seasonal ingredients. Yummy.
annabanana
Totally! Who needs takeaway when homemade is so easy and much healthier?!? Glad you like the recipe!
Amanda Mason
Pesto pizza is like my favorite thing in the entire world! But I've never made my own! These steps are so easy to follow and I just know I'll be able to make this!! Excited to make this!!!!
annabanana
Yay!!! So glad to hear that Amanda! Making dough from scratch is so therapeutic, plus once you make the big portion of it, you can just freeze the rest and have a supply of it for a while. Let me know when you try it! hugs!
lauren
The dough looks amazing! I always love your photos, these process shots are wonderful and so detailed. The toppings for this meatless pizza are right up my alley - pizza monday it is!
annabanana
Hi Lauren, thanks SO much for your lovely comment! I'm so chuffed to hear that you find the process shots helpful and you like the recipe too! Sending big hugs x
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Pizza is my all time favorite food and this looks so good! I’m loving the pesto twist and your toppings!
annabanana
Hi Lori, glad to hear from another pizza fan! And I'm very happy that you like this recipe, hope you will try it some time soon!
Sharon
What a wonderful springtime pizza recipe! I love pesto and asparagus so I can't wait to try this pizza soon.
annabanana
Thanks so much Sharon! I hope you will enjoy this recipe! Asparagus and pesto are match made in heaven!
Neha
All those fresh toppings make it look even more tempting! Nothing like homemade pizza on a lazy weekend and it's almost Saturday, yay!!!
annabanana
thank you so much Neha! I'm so glad that you like the look of this recipe! We always have pizza on Fridays, weekend wouldn't be the same without it!
Tammy
I love all these fresh and beautiful toppings!! Who could ever resist such a beautiful pizza?! I love my making my own...maybe I'll make it this weekend ^_^
annabanana
Hey Tammy, thanks for stopping by! So true, I honestly not meet anyone (so far!) who doesn't like homemade pizza with seasonal toppings! Always a winner!
Jenni
These sound amazing! I love all the great spring produce you added on these flatbreads! The homemade pizza dough really takes it up a notch, too!
annabanana
Hey Jenni, thanks so much, so glad to hear you like it! It's a great way to celebrate whatever produce is currently in season. Homemade pizza is also great to use up any leftover veggies or the ones that are perhaps not so fresh anymore!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
This Asparagus Green Pesto Pizza looks SO deliciously good. I wish I could eat that right now!
annabanana
Thanks so much! Glad you like the recipe!
Veena Azmanov
A homemade Pizza is the best option for a healthy Dinner. Love the combination of ingredients to this Pizza. Have to try making them this weekend.
annabanana
Thanks so much Veena, it's so easy to make it, and the toppings could be virtually any veggies that you have in the fridge! Glad you like the recipe, let me know if you try it!