Potato and Rosemary Pizza

Tender chunks of potatoes, minced fresh rosemary and roasted garlic are combined in a unique and delicious topping for this Roman-style pizza, which is made with a traditional thin crust. Add a simple green salad, and Sunday supper is served.

 

Potato and Rosemary Pizza

 

For the pizza dough:

4 tsp. active dry yeast

2 tsp. sugar

2 cups warm water

4 1/2 cups bread flour

4 tsp. salt

2 Tbs. olive oil

 

3 garlic heads, roasted

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Kosher salt, to taste

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 1/2 lb. baby Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, boiled and broken into rough chunks

6 tsp. minced fresh rosemary

4 1/2 oz. pecorino romano cheese, shaved

 

To make the pizza dough, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the yeast, sugar and warm water and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the flour and salt and start the mixer on low speed. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and knead the dough for 5 minutes. The dough should come together into a large ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl; it should be moist but not sticky.

 

Stop the mixer, remove the dough hook and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature until the dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour.

 

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces and roll each into a ball. Set on a flour-dusted baking sheet and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.

 

Place a granite pizza stone in a cold oven and preheat to 450°F. Place a ball of dough on a floured work surface. Roll out the dough into a 9-by-14-inch rectangle and transfer to a floured pizza peel.

 

Squeeze the pulp from the roasted garlic cloves into a small bowl and whisk in the 3/4 cup olive oil until smooth. Season with salt. Spread one-third of the roasted garlic mixture on the dough. Top evenly with one-third each of the mozzarella, potato chunks and rosemary and sprinkle lightly with salt. Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake until the crust is browned and the cheese is melted, 15 to 18 minutes. Using the pizza peel, transfer the pizza to a cutting board, top with one-third of the pecorino romano and drizzle with olive oil. Cut into slices and serve immediately. Repeat with the remaining dough and toppings to make 2 more pizzas. Makes 3 pizzas; serves 12.