A nectarine pizza topped with blue cheese, basil, and reduced balsamic vinegar.

I ate this whole pizza tonight. All of it. By myself. Not one slice remains for me for my breakfast tomorrow. I tried to refrain. No dice. So, if you’re still in summer-bathing-suit mode, avert your eyes.

This combination is so good. I believe the original, a pie hailing from Paso Robles where the dear friend who introduced me to this creation had just vacationed, called for peaches, but nectarines are a fine substitute. I’ve used an herbed goat cheese here with some Parmigiano Reggiano but I think some fresh ricotta or buffalo mozzarella or mascarpone or all three would be a nice substitute (or addition?) for the goat cheese. The Parmigiano, I think, is a must.

Fresh basil or some sprigs of arugula sprinkled on the just-baked pizza is key. It needs that hit of freshness as well as that bite from the reduced balsamic. Yum yum yum yum yum. Just don’t burn your balsamic. I did. Twice. Oiy. It’s really annoying. Really try not to do that.

Gosh, I don’t know what else to say. This is delicious and summery and fun, and I think you should make it.

Nectarine pizza ingredients on a board.
Assembled nectarine pizza on a sheet pan.
Just baked nectarine pizza on a board.
Just-baked nectarine pizza on a board with reduced balsamic.
Just-baked nectarine pizza on a board, sliced into pieces.

 

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Just-baked nectarine pizza sliced into pieces.

Nectarine Pizza with Fresh Basil and Reduced Balsamic

★★★★★

5 from 3 reviews
  • Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 pizzas
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Description

Pizza dough recipe adapted from Todd English’s The Figs Table

Each pizza serves 1 to 2 people.

Note: This dough freezes beautifully. After the initial rise, punch down the dough, wrap it in plastic and place in a Ziplock bag. Freeze for several months. When ready to use, let sit at room temperature for about an hour, then proceed with rolling/topping/baking.

Ingredients

For The Pizza Dough:

  • ¼ cup whole wheat flour
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for rolling
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 2/3 cups lukewarm water
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons active-dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

Reduced balsamic:

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Toppings For One Pizza:

  • olive oil for greasing
  • cheese: fresh ricotta, buffalo mozzarella, goat cheese, mascarpone, whatever you like
  • 1 nectarine, sliced thinly, (not paper thin)
  • shavings of fresh Parmigianno Reggiano
  • fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Make the dough: Place the flours and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. (Or knead by hand.) Combine the water, sugar and yeast in a small bowl and let sit for five minutes until the mixture bubbles slightly. Add the olive oil and stir. With the mixer on low, gradually add the oil-water mixture into the bowl. Knead until the dough is firm and smooth, under 10 minutes. The dough will be very wet and sort of difficult to work with. I liberally coat my hands with flour before attempting to remove it.
  2. Divide the dough into four balls, about 7½ ounces each. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. (Be sure to oil the parchment paper.) Place two balls on a sheet. Lightly rub the balls with olive oil, then cover loosely with plastic wrap. The dough is very sticky and wet, so, be sure to coat the balls or the plastic with oil. Let the balls rise in a warm spot until they have doubled in bulk, about two hours.
  3. To roll out the dough: Dab your fingers in flour and then place one ball on a generously floured work surface. Press down in the center with the tips of your fingers, spreading the dough with your hand. When the dough has doubled in width, use a floured rolling pin (or continue using floured hands if you are skilled at making pizzas) and roll out until it is very thin, like flatbread. The outer portion should be a little thicker than the inner portion. Note: If the dough is being very stubborn, let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. In this time, the gluten will relax, and the dough will be much easier to work with.
  4. To make the reduced balsamic: Place balsamic in a small sauté pan. Turn heat to medium high. Let simmer until reduced and noticeably thick — watch it like a hawk. If it burns, it’s ruined. There’s no salvaging burnt balsamic. Err on the side of under reduced. It reduces more than you expect as it’s cooling. Remove from heat.

Baking:

  1. Preheat the oven to 500ºF. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or grease lightly with olive oil. Place rolled out dough onto parchment paper or greased pan. Drizzle dough with a little olive oil and with your hand, rub it over the surface to coat evenly.
  2. Cover the dough with a layer of cheese — mozzarella, goat cheese, ricotta mascarpone, whatever you wish. Arrange one layer of sliced nectarines or peaches on top of the cheese. Sprinkle the fruit layer with fresh Parmigiano Reggiano. Place pizza in your very hot oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the crust is slightly brown and the cheese is melting.
  3. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil or arugula. Drizzle with the reduced balsamic. Slice and serve. Yum.
  • Prep Time: 3 hours
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Pizza
  • Method: Sheet pan
  • Cuisine: Italian, American

Keywords: sheet pan, pizza, nectarine, blue cheese, balsamic, reduced