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Bacon, Fingerling Potato, Rosemary and Fontina Cheese Pizza

Pizza is a meal that I can make year-round, and my husband loves it!  I admit, so do I.  I like to make pizzas that aren't necessarily made with a traditional red pizza sauce.  That's what intrigued me about this pizza recipes. I've made this gourmet pizza a few times, and it's absolutely delicious! What's not to love with a combination of bacon, onion, thinly sliced potatoes and Fontina cheese!
Course main
Cuisine American
Keyword Gourmet Pizza
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Pizza dough resting time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings 8
Author Debby - www.AFeastfortheEyes.net

Ingredients

For the pizza dough:

  • 2 packages active dry yeast
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 cups warm water 100 to 110° F
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus extra for bowl
  • 2 tablespoons King Arthur Pizza Dough Flavor Enhancer* optional

For the pizza topping:

  • 3 to 4 baby Yukon gold or fingerling potatoes finely sliced
  • 1/2 small onion finely sliced (I used one small Vidalia onion)
  • 6 slices Quality thick-cut smoked bacon finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus extra to grease pan
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced (optional, but tastes great)
  • 1 cup shredded fontina cheese I used two cups

For the grand finale*:

  • 1 cup baby arugula optional
  • 1/2 lemon juiced

Instructions

To make the pizza dough (which is really good):

    If you're using a stand mixer:

    • In a small bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and water and stir gently to dissolve. Let the mixture stand until the yeast comes alive and starts to foam, 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Combine the salt and flour to the bowl and pulse a few times to mix.
      Add the yeast mixture, at the lowest speed, until the flour incorporates.
      When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough gathers into a ball. This should take about 2 minutes.
      Add the olive oil and pulse a few more times. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Get a feel for the dough as you're making it by squeezing a small amount together between your thumb and fingers. If it's crumbly, add more water, if it's sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
      Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over itself a few times, kneading until it's smooth and elastic.

    If you're making the dough by hand:

    • Add the yeast mixture to a large bowl and stir in the salt and the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Then begin stirring in the flour.
      When the mixture becomes too stiff to stir with a spoon, knead in the rest of the flour by hand, adding just enough so that the dough is soft but not too sticky.
      As you work, squeeze a small amount of dough together between your thumb and fingers. If it's crumbly, add more water; if it's sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
    • Form the dough into a round and put it into a lightly oiled bowl, turning it over to coat the dough entirely with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot (i.e., over a gas pilot light) until it doubles in size, about 1 hour*.
    • NOTE: *I turned my oven on to warm, then turn it off. This helps to speed up the proofing of the pizza dough.

    For the pizza:

    • Preheat the oven to 450°F.
      Put a jelly roll pan or half sheet pan in the oven.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the fingerling potatoes, onion, bacon*, and rosemary leaves (and fresh garlic, if using). Add 1/4 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss together to coat with olive oil.
    • NOTE:* I pre-cooked the bacon, but didn't over crisp it. I'm glad I did this, as the bacon was cooked perfectly.
    • Take the preheated jelly roll pan out of the oven and drizzle some olive oil over entire surface. Cut the dough into 2 pieces and reserve 1 piece for another use*.
    • NOTE: I actually used 3/4 of the dough, and rolled in on a non-stick pie crust mat. I was able to pre-cut it to fit my jelly roll pan, which I thought was easier. Otherwise, stretch the pizza dough out so it is just bigger than the pan, then lay it inside the pan so the dough comes up the sides to form a crust on the rim.
    • Pour the potato mixture onto the pizza dough, then sprinkle with shredded Fontina cheeses (Iincreased the amount to 2 cups). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until crispy and golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.

    OPTIONAL BUT GLAD I DID THIS:

    • Garnish with arugula and drizzle the lemon juice over the top. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    The arugula and fresh lemon juice is what made all the flavors come together. I highly recommend it!
    NOTE: I buy King Arthur Pizza Dough Flavor Enhancer, which makes all of my pizza, from their website. It makes pizza dough taste even better!
    Recipe source: Adapted from Tyler Florence, Food Network