Recipe: Re-thinking Pizza

Dressing up your 'Za'

Entertaining season is definitely upon us and you may be planning a few casual get-togethers with friends. While pizza is always a crowd pleaser, it's nice to gear it a little more to the adult taste buds.

Cue the pizza dressed up for date night (or the holidays, or the office party, or whatever the occasion)! This variation on the classic is a feast for the eyes- and taste buds.

Prosciutto and Fig Flat bread

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: 8-10 as an appetizer, 4 as a main course

Ingredients

1 flat bread from your bakery of choice

5-6 fresh ripe figs

a handful of arugula

1 package of Prosciutto (cured ham)

olive oil

fresh Parmesan 

balsamic reduction
Sundried tomato tapenade

Directions

1) Brush the flat bread with a little olive oil and spread some sundried tomato tapenade over top

2) Arrange the arugula over the spread. Then add prosciutto and figs on top

3) Use a vegetable or potato peeler to create ribbons of parmesan and arrange over the flat bread (be careful not to go too heavy on the cheese or ham as both ingredients are quite salty)

4) Bake the flatbread at 375 degrees on a baking sheet for about 15 minutes or until desired softness is reached. If you'd like the pizza to be crunchier, bake it directly on the oven rack

5) Lightly drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar (see recipe below) over the pizza

To amp up the flavours a little you can serve some fig jam alongside this flat bread for a party friendly appetizer or main dish

Balsamic Reduction

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup of balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp of honey or 1/2 spoon of sugar (optional)

pinch of salt

Directions

1) Bring the vinegar to a boil on medium-high heat

2) Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until you see the consistency change (the liquid should be like syrup)

3) Remove from the heat and add the honey or sugar

4) Lightly salt the glaze and transfer it to a squeeze bottle (from a dollar store or cooking supply store)

The glaze will thicken as it cools but you will love using it to dress up your plates and cheese boards

I hope you enjoy this recipe and that you try it at home! I'd love to hear how you dress up your pizza for a special meal. Leave me a comment below or on Instagram @angeliesood

This recipe was inspired by a flatbread I saw on display at Longo's Fine Foods. I have adapted the dish in my own kitchen.