Asparagus, Red Onion and Toasted Pine Nut Pizza
Ingredients
Tomato Sauce Ingredients
- 1 28 oz can San Marzano tomatoes
- pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- Tablespoon garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
Pizza Dough and Toppings Ingredients
- 1 package Trader Joe's Organic Frozen Pizza Crusts
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce (above)
- 6 spears of asparagus
- salt
- Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 medium or 2 small vine-ripened tomatoes
- red onion thinly sliced
- 1 Tablespoon pine nuts toasted
- 4 to 6 oz fresh mozzarella
Instructions
Tomato Sauce Instructions
- Place the tomatoes in a soup pot
- Use your hands or a potato masher to break up the tomatoes into smaller chunks
- Add remaining ingredients and cook on medium-high heat, stirring often for 15 minutes
Pizza Instructions
- Cut off woody ends of asparagus and discard. If asparagus spears are thick, slice lengthwise into two pieces
- Toss asparagus in a drizzle of garlic EVOO and a pinch of salt
- cut tomato into 1/8 inch thick slices and lightly salt on both sides
- slice red onion thinly using a mandolin
- cut mozzarella into 1/4 inch thick slices
- toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat (see notes)
- Spread about 1/2 cup of pizza sauce onto pizza crust
- Add mozzarella, then sliced tomato, onion and asparagus
- Cook 12 to 15 minutes at 425F
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts
Notes
Place the pine nuts in a dry, non-stick skillet and cook over medium heat. Stir or toss the nuts constantly in the pan. Within 3 to 5 minutes, the pine nuts will turn golden brown in spots and will begin to glisten as oils are released. Salt the pine nuts at this point, toss and move to a plate to cool. Be careful, toasted pine nuts are very hot right out of the pan!