Three-cheese and Sage Pizza

, from Issue #93. October, 2020
Photography by Josh Griggs.
Three-cheese and Sage Pizza

Rich with molten cheese and the woody notes of sage, this is the perfect snack to serve with an aperitif.

INGREDIENTS

1 portion Pizza Dough (see recipe below), rolled out
olive oil
1 cup firm ricotta
½ cup mascarpone
½ cup grated mozzarella
finely grated zest 1 lemon
2 cloves garlic, crushed
sea salt and ground pepper
¼ cup cream
12 small sage leaves
parmesan for grating

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 225°C fan bake. Place a heavy flat baking tray in to preheat.

Combine the ricotta, mascarpone, mozzarella, lemon zest and the garlic, and season with salt and pepper.

Brush the dough with a little oil then spread the ricotta mixture over the dough, leaving a border around the edge. Drizzle over the cream and scatter over the sage. Grate over a generous amount of parmesan. Slide the pizza, still on the paper, onto the hot baking tray and bake for 12 minutes, or until puffed and golden, turning for even browning if necessary. Serve immediately.


Pizza Dough
I use instant dried yeast that comes packaged in single-use foil sachets and is available in the baking section at supermarkets. The yeast is added to the dry ingredients as described and is not activated in warm liquid first. The water measurement in a dough recipe is only a guide and you may need to add more depending on the dryness of the flour, or add more flour if the dough is too wet.

2 cups high-grade flour
1½ teaspoons instant dried yeast
1½ teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon caster sugar
225ml warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Tip in the combined water and oil and bring together to make a soft shaggy dough. Tip onto a lightly floured bench and bring together with your hands. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Place in a large, oiled bowl and turn the dough to lightly coat in the oil. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a draught-free place for 1½-2 hours to double in size.

When the dough has risen, remove from the bowl and divide in half.

Dust with flour then place on a sheet of baking paper and roll out or flatten the dough with your fingers to the desired shape. Makes 2 pizzas.