Sweet strawberry, basil & balsamic pizzas

Try this new flavour combo as a dessert rather than the usual main course. Fun to make with the kids and a great talking point after a summery barbecue.

Serves: 8

Prep: 40 minutes

Rising: 1¼ hours – 1 hour 20 minutes

Cook: 12-15 minutes

 

Ingredients

  • 300g (11oz) strong white bread flour

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons caster sugar

  • 1½ teaspoons fast action dried yeast

  • 25g (1oz) butter, melted

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 150 ml (¼ pint) warm water

Topping

  • 125g pack Abergavenny goats cheese log, cut into 8 slices

  • 450g (1lb) strawberries, hulled, halved or quartered

  • Handful basil leaves

  • 25g (1oz) butter, melted

  • 2 tablespoons caster sugar

  • 4 teaspoons balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar

 

Method

  1. Add the flour, salt, sugar and yeast to a large mixing bowl and stir together. Add the melted butter, beaten egg and warm water and mix to a soft but not sticky dough.

  2. Knead the dough for 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Put into a bowl and cover the top with oiled clingfilm. Leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

  3. Knead the dough for a second time then cut into 8 pieces. Roll each piece out to a rough shaped circle with a diameter of about 12.5cm (5 inches) with a rolling pin then put on to 2 oiled baking sheets. Crumble a slice of cheese over each pizza then top with the strawberries and basil leaves torn into pieces. Cover loosely with oiled clingfilm and leave to rise for 15-20 minutes until beginning to puff up around the edges. Preheat the oven to 220°C, 200°C fan assisted, Gas 7.

  4. Remove the clingfilm and drizzle the pizzas with the butter and sprinkle with the sugar. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the pizzas are golden and the bases are dry.

  5. Drizzle with the balsamic glaze or vinegar and serve warm. 

 

Cook’s tip

Balsamic glaze is a thicker reduced version of balsamic vinegar and sold in the supermarket alongside the other vinegars, but balsamic vinegar can be used too.


Jade ThorneComment