White Pizza – Who Needs Traditional Pizza Sauce?

My favorite mom and pop pizzeria has a great pizza called “White Album” that I absolutely adore.  The problem is, the shop is 20 minutes from my house, during light traffic when the planets are aligned just right.  By the time I get my pizza back home, it’s cold and sometimes soggy.  Blech!  So, I set out to make a similar pizza, with a bit of my own twist.  My White Pizza was born.  It’s now a family favorite and is usually eaten well before it’s red sauce counterpart.

What’s the Sauce on a White Pizza?

I started out with a butter sauce on my White Pizza, but when I disassembled a piece of White Album, I realized I was missing the creamy goodness of a simple Alfredo sauce.  Rich and delicious, the Alfredo sauce adds just the right thickness to hold the cheese tight and all the toppings too.  You wouldn’t think an Alfredo sauce would be good on a pizza, but really, it’s amazing.  Top it with some simple things like sliced baby bella mushrooms, fresh spinach, and maybe some pepperoni, and you have an amazing White Pizza like no other.

Make White Pizza Your Favorite!

Add some garlic slices, your favorite toppings (olives are an awesome choice), and you will have a fantastic White Pizza that everyone can agree on!  Or try putting a ring of white sauce around the outer section of the crust with red on the inside.  It’s the best of both worlds, right on your plate!  Seriously tasty!

Dough:

1 T yeast (or 1 pkt)

1 C warm water

1 t sugar

2 1/2 C flour

2 T olive oil

1 t salt

Sauce:

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1/2 C (1 stick) butter

1/4 C Parmesan cheese, grated

1 1/2 C half n half or whole milk

Crust:

Place the water in a medium bowl.  Add the sugar and stir.  Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let sit to “bloom”.

Place the flour, olive oil, and salt in a large bowl.

Make a well in the center of the flour, and pour in the foaming yeast and water.

Mix well with a dough hook on a mixer or with your hands if needed.

Spray with cooking spray and cover.  Let sit until the sauce is made.

Sauce:

Melt the cream cheese and butter in a medium saucepan, whisking to blend.

Add the Parmesan cheese and stir.

Add the half n half slowly, stirring well.

Simmer for a few minutes, stirring constantly.  When sauce is thick, remove from heat.

Pressing Out the Crust:

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.

On a 14 or 16 inch round pizza pan, either sprinkle corn meal or drizzle with olive oil.

Punch down the dough and press into a circle.  Place on the pizza pan and, starting in the center and working your way out, press dough into a round with a curved edge.

Spread sauce on the crust and top with your favorite toppings.

Bake 15-20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown in the center and the cheese is melted and golden.

Serve hot.

Next pizza night, whip up a White Pizza!