Spring Pea Pizza and West Side Story

Hello Friends! Welcome to Pizza and a Movie. As I write this post, the winter has returned for one last gasp. So the Spring Pea Pizza I made while the sun was out and the temperature was kissing 80 degrees feels little less springy today. But, no less delicious and no less satisfying. I love the combination of pink and green for spring and this pizza captures that freshness perfectly. This pizza sounds weird, but stick with me because it’s a really wonderful flavor combination. Fresh and bright with wonderful textures and flavor. So let’s do it!

Easy Peasy Pea Puree

First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. This pizza starts with a fresh pea puree. I have about 16-ounces (two small bags) of fresh, shelled English peas. Blanch the peas in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the whole peas, then use a food processor the puree the peas, drizzle in a few tablespoons of olive oil to get a smooth texture. Season with kosher salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Spring Pea Pizza with Ham

In addition to our pea puree base, we have mozzarella, smoked ham slices and ricotta. We also have the reserved whole, blanched peas. I will say that while I put the ricotta on pre-bake, if your ricotta is super fresh (like mine ended up being) I would dollop on the ricotta post-bake.

My local supermarket sells little mini smoked hams that are pre-sliced. I went with that product, but this would be a great use for any leftover smoked ham too. Roll, spin, or stretch your pizza dough to about 12-inches round. The first layer will be the pea puree. Spread on the pea puree – get even coverage, but don’t make it too thick. You will likely have leftover puree that you can use to spread on crackers or toast.

Follow the pea puree with freshly grated or strips of low-moisture mozzarella. Then top the cheese with your ham slices.

Now here is where you make the call: if your ricotta is super fresh, creamy and a little loose, dollop it on after the pizza bakes. If your ricotta is on the firm side, dollop it on now, pre-bake. Then scatter the fresh whole peas around the top of the pizza. Even if you add the ricotta post-bake, scatter the peas on pre-bake.

Bake the pizza for about 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is puffed and golden.

Spring Pea Pizza

When the pizza comes out, let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing. In the meantime, brush the crust with olive oil. Top the baked pizza with fresh cracked black pepper. Then slice it up! Alex was not confident in this combination. Then he tried it, and had to admit that not only does it totally work as a pizza, but it’s really good! Lol!

The pea puree is slightly sweet and bright, the ham brings its smoky, salty flavor. The cheese adds a mellow creaminess, making this pizza rich and well-rounded. The scattering of whole peas gives a nice pop of textural difference.

Movie Night: West Side Story

Our Spring Pea Pizza is ready, so let’s get to the movie! The last time I saw West Side Story, it was a stage production at The Mountain Play Theater, a gorgeous Greek-style amphitheater on the slope of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County, California. It was a wonderful production, set in a beautiful mountain landscape. Springtime feels like musicals to me, so I felt it was time to give Spielberg’s West Side Story a go.

For the uninitiated, West Side Story is ‘doomed love’ story, along the lines of Romeo and Juliet. Set in 1957 New York, two rival street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks are fighting out their territories on the streets when Maria (a Shark) meets and falls for Tony (a Jet) at a gym dance.

I quite enjoyed this movie. The sets are grand; the dancing and costumes are wonderful. The dance numbers that move the company through the streets of New York are done beautifully. Rita Moreno [who originally played Anita] is back in this film version; she plays a new character named Valentina. I was at first worried about a newly invented character, but the mother/son relationship between Valentina and Tony offers the audience a sweet side of Tony that endears the audience to him well before he meets Maria.

There are other differences in Spielberg’s version; for instance, the placement of certain songs. In the original film Anita sings ‘America’ before the dance; in this film, the number takes place the morning after the dance. But these changeups are well-placed. If you’ve never seen West Side Story (even if you’re not into musicals), I recommend watching this film, you will undoubtedly recognize many of the songs as classics, and you will be snapping your fingers by the end. If you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet…

Westside Story is available to rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Vudu and YouTube; It’s available to watch with a subscription to HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu Premium.

Thank you so much for joining me today for Pizza and a Movie! Remember you can always come to Djalali Cooks for interesting, delicious pizza combinations! Check out the whole gallery of Pizza recipes from my weekly series Pizza and a Movie. Have a great weekend, take care and be well. xo Kelly

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Spring Pea Pizza

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Dinner, Main Course – American/Italian

By Kelly Djalali – Serves: 2-4

Prep Time: 20 Minutes – Cooking Time: 15-20 Minutes – Total Time: ~40 Minutes

Fresh Spring Peas with salty smoked ham slices, mozzarella and ricotta make a deliciously savory, fresh and rich pizza. Perfect for Spring!

Ingredients

• Pea Puree
• 2 6-8-oz. Bags Fresh English Peas - reserve 1/4 cup of the peas to leave whole
• Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt, to taste
• Juice from Half a Lemon
• Spring Pea Pizza with Ham
• 1 Prepared Pizza Dough
• Pea Puree
• 1/2 cup grated Low Moisture Mozzarella
• Smoked Ham Slices
• 1/4 cup Ricotta
• 1/4 cup Whole Fresh English Peas
• Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

Instructions

1

First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Pea Puree

2

Blanch the peas in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then drain and rinse in cold water. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the whole peas, then use a food processor the puree the peas, drizzle in a few tablespoons of olive oil to get a smooth texture. Season with kosher salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Spring Pea Pizza with Ham

3

Roll, spin, or stretch your pizza dough to about 12-inches round.

4

Spread on the pea puree – get even coverage, but don't make it too thick. You will likely have leftover puree that you can use to spread on crackers or toast.

5

Follow the pea puree with freshly grated or strips of low-moisture mozzarella. Then top the cheese with your ham slices.

6

Now here is where you make the call: if your ricotta is super fresh, creamy and a little loose, dollop it on after the pizza bakes. If your ricotta is a little firmer, dollop it on now, pre-bake. Then scatter the fresh whole peas around the top of the pizza. Even if you add the ricotta post-bake, scatter the peas on pre-bake.

7

Bake the pizza for about 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the crust is puffed and golden.

8

When the pizza comes out, let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing. In the meantime, brush the crust with olive oil.

9

Top the baked pizza with fresh cracked black pepper.