Middle Eastern Pizza with Red Onion, Fennel, Lemon, Ricotta and Kale

Middle Eastern Pizza with Red Onion, Fennel, Lemon, Ricotta and Kale

Ingredients

• For the Pizza Dough
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 package (2 1/4 tsp.) active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. za’atar
• 1 cup water
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• For the Toppings
• 2 tablespoons za’atar
• About 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
• About 1/2 cup thinly sliced fennel (reserve a few fronds)
• 1/2 Meyer lemon, thinly sliced and seeds removed
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup loosely packed baby kale leaves (can substitute arugula)
• Extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Instructions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees. If you’re using a pizza stone, warm it in your oven as the oven pre-heats. If you’re using a baking sheet, dust it lightly with cornmeal and set it aside (no need to pre-heat it).
2. Make the pizza dough. In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup of the flour, the yeast, sugar, salt and za’atar. In a microwave-safe measuring cup, warm the water and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until the liquid reaches 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit. Then pour this warmed liquid over the dry ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth. Add the remaining 2 cups of flour and stir until the flour is almost fully incorporated. The dough will be a little shaggy at this point. Dump the dough out onto a floured counter top and use your hands to bring the dough together, kneading it a couple times and shaping it into a ball. Then press the dough out into a circle until the dough is approximately 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Transfer the dough to your warmed pizza stone or baking sheet. Brush the surface of the dough with the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil.
3. Sprinkle the za’atar evenly over the surface of the dough. Top with the sliced red onions, fennel and lemon. Then drop spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese over the toppings. Transfer the pizza to your pre-heated oven and bake for 16-18 minutes, until the crust has started to brown around the edges. Remove the pizza from the oven and set it aside.
4. In a small bowl, toss the kale and a few reserved fennel fronds with just enough olive oil and balsamic vinegar to lightly coat the leaves. Then add the greens to the top of the pizza. Slice and serve immediately.