BLT Pizza and Downton Abbey: A New Era

Hello and welcome to Pizza and a Movie! Today we have a pizza version of a classic BLT Sandwich. The lettuce part of our BLT Pizza will come at the end, in the form of a dressed greens salad, topping and finishing the baked Bacon and Tomato Pizza. I really love this pizza because while its components are simple, the flavor is complex, yet nothing is lost. What’s the secret? I think the dressed greens topping the pizza take everything to another level. The bright acidity of the dressing elevates all of the flavors and adds great texture. Let’s do it!

The Prep

The prep for this pizza is simple and you can bake the bacon well ahead of time. I like to bake my bacon on a wire rack set in a foil lined sheet tray at 375 degrees until the bacon is lightly crisp, about 15-20 minutes. The time depends on the thickness of the bacon and how well done you like your bacon. We veer toward lightly crisp edges and a center that still has some chew to it. I also like to use thick cut bacon. When your bacon is cooked to your liking and cooled, chop it into roughly 1/2-inch strips.

Preheat the oven with pizza stone or steel to 450 degrees for about 40 minutes to one hour. Let the prepared pizza dough come up to room temperature.

Other than about 6 strips of bacon, I have about 1.5 cups of quartered grape (or cherry) tomatoes and about 1 and a quarter cup of grated mozzarella cheese. I like grape or cherry tomatoes rather than large tomato slices because the small tomatoes have less water in them.

When the oven is up to temp and dough is at room temp; pull, stretch, roll or spin your dough out to about 12-inches round on a floured pizza peel.

Spread an even layer of the cheese (about 1 cup) over the dough surface. Then top with the bacon. Follow the bacon with the quartered tomatoes. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese.

Shimmy and slide the pizza onto the pizza stone or steel (be prepared to lose a few tomatoes in the process) and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the dough is puffed and golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Dressed Greens

While the pizza is in the oven we can toss together the greens and dressing. I have a mix of baby super greens: spinach, chard, arugula and kale. Start with about 1.5-2 cups of the greens and give them a light, rough chop. Dice one small shallot. Combine the chopped greens and the shallot in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Give it a drizzle of white or red wine vinegar and toss to combine. Season with a little kosher salt and black pepper and toss again to combine.

Putting the L on the BLT Pizza

When the pizza comes out of the oven, let it sit for a minute, then top the entire surface with the dressed greens.

Then slice it how you like it and enjoy!

Movie Night: Downton Abbey: A New Era

We have our BLT Pizza ready, so let’s get to the movie. A couple weeks ago I mentioned today’s movie, and I finally got the chance to go out to the movie theater to see it. Downton Abbey: A New Era is the new Downton movie currently in theaters. According to @downtonabbey_official, beginning today, it is available to rent at home via Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu and Xfinity, among others.

This follow up film is a must-see for any Downton fan. Of course there are beautiful sets, costumes and scenery; plus we have some great storylines for our favorite characters, both upstairs and down. Whether you head out to the theater, or stream it at home, this film is a wonderful visit back to Downton and I hope we get more of them!

Thank you all for joining me today for Pizza and a Movie! If your looking for another bacon and tomato combination, try Bacon and Tomato Pizza with Corn. I hope you have a beautiful weekend. Take care and be well, xo Kelly

Print Recipe

BLT Pizza

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Dinner, Main Course – American/Italian

By Kelly Djalali – Serves: 2-4

Prep Time: 30 Minutes – Cooking Time: 15 Minutes – Total Time: ~45 Minutes

The classic bacon and tomato sandwich combination elevated with dressed greens and shallots make this simple BLT Pizza a winner.

Ingredients

• 6 Strips Thick Cut Bacon; cooked, cooled and chopped into 1/2-inch strips
• 1 Prepared Pizza Dough
• 1.25 cups Grated Mozzarella Cheese
• 1.5 cups Quartered Grape Tomatoes
• 2 cups Baby Greens, roughly chopped
• 1 small Shallot, diced
• Drizzle of Olive oIl
• Drizzle of Red or White Wine Vinegar
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven with pizza stone or steel to 450 degrees for about 40 minutes to one hour. Let the prepared pizza dough come up tot room temperature.

2

When the oven is up to temp and dough is at room temp; pull, stretch, roll or spin your dough out to about 12-inches round on a floured pizza peel.

3

Spread an even layer of the cheese (about 1 cup) over the dough surface. Then top with the bacon. Follow the bacon with the quartered tomatoes. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese.

4

Shimmy and slide the pizza onto the pizza stone or steel (be prepared to lose a few tomatoes in the process) and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the dough is puffed and golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

5

Combine the chopped greens and the shallot in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Give it a drizzle of white or red wine vinegar and toss to combine. Season with a little kosher salt and black pepper and toss again to combine.

6

When the pizza comes out of the oven, let it sit for a minute, then top the entire surface with the dressed greens.

7

Then slice it how you like it and enjoy!