Recipes: Springtime pizza toppings from the farmers market

Here are some ideas for pizza toppings that can be purchased at your local farmers market this week, along with some suggested combinations. Have fun experimenting!

Place suggested toppings below on your rolled out dough in the order listed. Meat can be included or omitted on all of these to make veggie pizzas.

Topping tip: Use just a sprinkling of garlic and herbs, and 2-3 tablespoons each of the meats and cheeses. With pizza toppings, less is more. If overloaded with toppings, the dough will remain soggy and undercooked.

Preheat oven to highest setting (450-550°F). Bake the pizza on a lower rack, about 9-12 minutes, or until hot and bubbly in the middle of the pizza (not just around the edges).

Suggested combinations for topping pizza:

• Chicken with herbs and goat cheese: tomato sauce (straight outta the can), salt and fresh ground black pepper, fresh chopped herbs, shredded cooked chicken, and goat cheese. A mild sausage is a nice addition, too.
• Sausage and bean: tomato sauce (straight outta the can), chopped or sliced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, dried Italian herbs, salt and fresh ground black pepper, sauteed spinach or braising greens or spring greens, cooked and chopped hot Italian sausage, cooked beans, and grated Gouda cheese.
• Smoked salmon and jalapeno: white sauce, pickled jalapeno slices, sliced green onions or sauteed leeks, smoked salmon, Feta cheese.
• Garlic: white sauce, chopped or sliced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, sauteed spinach or braising greens or spring greens, sauteed wild mushrooms, grated nutmeg, Feta cheese. Meat is optional, but ham or cooked bacon or clams would be especially delicious.
• Savory fruit, cheese, and nut: drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, goat cheese, very thinly sliced fresh pear or apple, chopped hazelnuts, fresh ground black pepper.

For more info: 
Recipe for pizza dough