Funky Mushroom Pizza and Sound of Metal

Hello and welcome to Pizza and a Movie! We are continuing on with the Best Picture Nominees this week with Sound of Metal. I have an amazing mushroom pizza combination that I am calling the Funky Mushroom Pizza. The funky aroma of Taleggio cheese, with its mellow nuttiness; and the super duo of peppery Chanterelle and earthy Morel Mushrooms make this pizza a standout in flavor, texture and appearance.

Prep: Dried Mushrooms

I used dried, reconstituted Morels and Chanterelles for this recipe. I found them at my local Fresh Market grocery store, but you can order them online too. Reconstitute them according to the package directions, I just let them soak, covered with plastic wrap, in about 1.5 cups of boiling water for half an hour. Be sure to save the liquid, you can use it in a stock or broth. Once they have plumped and softened up just give them a good rinse in cold water and you’re all set.

Get the oven preheated to 450 degrees. In addition to the Taleggio and mushrooms, I have fresh mozzarella pearls, Calabrian chiles and I will finish the pie with some finely chopped fresh chives and fresh thyme leaves. This pie is going to be a pan pizza, so I have my pan lightly oiled and I will just pull this dough out to a rectangular shape. Then lay it in my little sheet pan.

Pizza Assembly

Let’s start with a base of mozzarella pearls. I like to break them in half and then do an even scattering over the pie. Then, the mushrooms and the Calabrian chiles.

We will top with the Taleggio cheese. Taleggio is a semisoft cheese with a consistency similar to Fontina. It is a pungent cheese with a soft rind. Though it’s kinda stinky, its flavor is mild and nutty. I love how it melts into the textured ridges of the Morels – which is why I like to save it for the last layer. Layering the Taleggio on top also helps the mushrooms retain some of their soft textures, without getting too crispy.

Bake the pie for about 15 minutes, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly. Use a fish spatula to ease it out of the pan and brush olive oil on the crust while the pie is still hot. Sprinkle the crust with flaky sea salt and finish the pie with chopped chives and fresh thyme.

I like to slice these pan pizzas into large squares, so slice it up! Let’s get to the movie.

Movie Night: Sound of Metal

As we continue to make our way through the Best Picture Nominees, today we are watching Sound of Metal. I was interested in this movie for a few reasons, the main two being: I was once a musician; playing in bands and touring the US. The other reason is that I really like the main actor, Riz Ahmed.

I stopped playing music a long time ago, but the idea of completely losing your ability to hear in a very short period of time is no less devastating. This film beautifully captures the stages of grief one would feel over the total loss of their ability to hear. Riz Ahmed is wonderful in this role; he embodies his character so fully and fluidly. Regardless of whether your passion is music, this film universally speaks to how one adjusts to, and accepts, a change in abilities; a new way of life.

Thank you for joining me today for Pizza and a Movie. Catch up on the Oscar Nominated Best Pictures we’ve reviewed on Pizza and a Movie so far. I hope you give this Funky Mushroom Pizza a try and that you watch Sound of Metal. Have you already seen it? Let me know your thoughts, reach out on facebook or Instagram.

Print Recipe

Funky Mushroom Pizza

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Loading...

Dinner, Main Course – American

By Kelly Djalali – Serves: 2-4

Prep Time: 15 Minutes – Cooking Time: 15 minutes – Total Time: 30 Minutes

The funky aroma of Taleggio cheese, with its mellow nuttiness; and the super duo of peppery Chanterelle and earthy Morel Mushrooms make this pizza a standout in flavor, texture and appearance.

Ingredients

• 1 Prepared Pizza Dough
• 4 oz. Mozzarella Pearls
• 1/2 oz. Dried Chanterelles, reconstituted
• 1/2 oz. Dried Morels, reconstituted
• 10 Calabrian Chiles, sliced in half
• 4-5 oz. Taleggio Cheese, sliced into thin-ish slices
• Olive Oil, for brushing crust
• Flaky Sea Salt, for sprinkling on crust
• Fresh Chopped Chives, for garnish
• Fresh Thyme leaves, for garnish

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2

Stretch dough into a rectangular shape and lay into a lightly greased quarter sheet pan.

3

Spread mozzarella pearls evenly over the pizza.

4

Spread mushroom mixture evenly over pizza.

5

Scatter Calabrian chiles over pizza.

6

Lay slices of Taleggio over pizza.

7

Bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.

8

Ease pizza out of the pan and onto a cutting board.

9

Brush olive oil over crust and sprinkle flake sea salt over crust.

10

Sprinkle fresh thyme and chives over the pie.