Easy White Pizza Recipe

Are you ready to transform your pizza night with a mouthwatering white pizza that'll make your taste buds dance? Forget traditional tomato sauce and dive into a world of creamy, cheesy goodness that's surprisingly simple to create. You'll learn how to craft a gourmet-style pizza right in your own kitchen, using just a few quality ingredients and some culinary creativity. Intrigued by the possibilities of a sauce-free pizza experience that promises rich flavor and elegant simplicity?

Recipe Highlights

• Start with pre-made pizza dough for simplicity, rolling it thin on a well-floured surface to create an even base for your white pizza.
• Spread garlic-infused olive oil across the dough, leaving a small border, and strategically drop spoonfuls of ricotta and torn mozzarella for maximum flavor.
• Bake at high heat (around 450°F) on a preheated pizza stone until cheese bubbles and edges turn golden brown, typically within 12-15 minutes.
• Customize your white pizza with optional toppings like fresh basil, arugula, prosciutto, or caramelized onions to enhance flavor and personal preference.
• Allow the pizza to rest for a few minutes after baking, ensuring easier slicing and helping ingredients settle for the best taste and texture.

History

While the exact origins of white pizza remain somewhat shrouded in culinary mystery, you'll find its roots deeply embedded in traditional Italian cuisine. Ancient Romans were known for creating flatbreads topped with olive oil, herbs, and cheese, which closely resembled modern white pizza styles.

As culinary traditions evolved, regions like Rome and Naples developed their own unique variations of this simple, delectable dish.

You'll discover that white pizza, or "pizza bianca," emerged as a rustic alternative to tomato-based pizzas. Bakers would often use leftover bread dough, transforming simple ingredients into a hearty meal.

The technique spread throughout Italy, with each region adding its own distinctive touch—some incorporating local cheeses, others focusing on herb-infused olive oil bases.

This humble dish represents a perfect example of Italian cooking's elegant simplicity.

Recipe

White pizza is a delightful twist on traditional pizza, showcasing the pure flavors of cheese and herbs without tomato sauce. This simple yet elegant dish transforms basic ingredients into a gourmet meal that can be enjoyed any night of the week.

Perfect for home cooks of all skill levels, white pizza offers a canvas for culinary creativity while maintaining the comforting essence of a classic pizza. The combination of creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and garlic-infused olive oil creates a rich and satisfying dining experience.

Ingredients:

• Pre-made pizza dough (16 oz)
• Fresh mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
• Ricotta cheese (1 cup)
• Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
• Fresh garlic (4 cloves)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: Fresh herbs like basil or oregano

Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C), placing a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat. Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface, stretching it to your desired thickness and shape. Mince the garlic and mix with olive oil, then brush this mixture evenly across the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.

Distribute spoonfuls of ricotta cheese across the surface of the pizza, then tear the mozzarella into smaller pieces and scatter them over the ricotta. Season with salt and pepper, and add optional fresh herbs if desired.

Carefully transfer the pizza to the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling and slightly browned.

For the best results, allow all ingredients to come to room temperature before preparation. Cold ingredients can affect cooking time and cheese melting. If the crust begins to brown too quickly, reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Always let the pizza rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the cheese to set and make slicing easier.

Cooking Steps

You'll start by preparing your pizza dough surface, rolling it out on a well-floured workspace and creating an even, thin base that'll crisp beautifully in the oven.

Next, you'll spread your fragrant olive oil and minced garlic mixture across the dough, leaving a small border for a classic crust.

Then, strategically drop spoonfuls of ricotta and torn mozzarella pieces for maximum flavor coverage.

To finish, you'll bake the pizza until the cheese bubbles and the edges turn a tempting golden brown, with an optional sprinkle of fresh herbs adding a final aromatic touch.

Step 1. Prepare Pizza Dough Surface

Flour transforms an ordinary kitchen counter into a pizza artist's canvas, ready for dough manipulation and culinary creativity. Dust your work surface generously with flour, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.

Place the pre-made pizza dough in the center, using your hands to gently press and stretch it outward.

Key dough preparation techniques:

• Use light, even pressure
• Rotate dough periodically for uniform shape
• Aim for roughly 12-14 inches diameter
• Keep edges slightly thicker for a rustic crust

Work methodically, allowing the dough to relax between stretches. If the dough resists, let it rest for 2-3 minutes, then continue shaping.

Your goal is a thin, even surface that'll crisp beautifully in the hot oven, creating the perfect foundation for your white pizza masterpiece.

Step 2. Spread Olive Oil Mixture

Aromatic garlic transforms ordinary olive oil into a flavor-packed base that'll elevate your white pizza from good to extraordinary.

Mince the 4 cloves of fresh garlic finely, creating uniform, small pieces that'll distribute evenly across the oil. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic with 2 tablespoons of high-quality olive oil, whisking gently to ensure the garlic's essential oils infuse the liquid thoroughly.

Using a silicone brush or the back of a spoon, spread the garlic-infused olive oil across the rolled-out pizza dough. Be sure to:

• Leave a small border (about ½ inch) around the edges
• Cover the surface evenly
• Avoid creating pools of oil that might make the crust soggy

The result? A fragrant, richly flavored foundation for your white pizza.

Step 3. Add Cheese Strategically

After spreading the garlic-infused olive oil, strategically adding cheese becomes the next critical step in creating a sublime white pizza.

You'll want to drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese across the surface, creating delightful pockets of creamy texture that'll melt beautifully during baking. Space the dollops about 2-3 inches apart to ensure even distribution.

Next, tear fresh mozzarella into rustic pieces, allowing them to cascade naturally over the ricotta. This technique creates visual interest and prevents the cheese from looking too uniform.

Pro tips:

• Use room temperature cheese for smoother melting
• Leave small gaps between cheese pieces
• Aim for roughly 70% cheese coverage
• Ensure cheese reaches close to—but not touching—the crust's edge

Precise cheese placement guarantees a professional-looking white pizza.

Step 4. Bake Until Cheese Bubbles

When the pizza is topped and ready, carefully slide it onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet in your 450°F oven.

Watch closely as the cheese begins to transform, melting and bubbling across the surface with a golden, appetizing glow.

You'll want to aim for:

• Edges that turn crisp and golden brown
• Mozzarella with slight caramelized peaks
• Ricotta that softens but maintains its shape

Check the pizza at the 12-minute mark, rotating it if your oven has uneven heat distribution.

The crust should look firm and slightly risen, with cheese that's melted but not burned.

If the edges are browning too quickly, loosely tent aluminum foil over the pizza to prevent overcooking.

Remove when the cheese is perfectly bubbling and the crust looks irresistibly crisp.

Step 5. Optional Herb Garnish

Something magical happens when you sprinkle fresh herbs over a piping-hot white pizza, transforming it from delicious to extraordinary.

Consider these aromatic options to elevate your white pizza:

• Fresh basil leaves: Tear into small pieces, scattering them across the surface just after baking
• Chopped oregano: Adds a classic Italian herbaceous note
• Finely chopped chives: Provides a delicate onion-like flavor
• Fresh thyme leaves: Introduces an earthy, subtle complexity

Pro tip: Wait until the pizza comes directly out of the oven before adding herbs. The residual heat will gently warm the herbs, releasing their essential oils and intensifying their fragrance.

Use about 2-3 tablespoons of fresh herbs total, ensuring an even distribution across the pizza's surface. This final touch not only enhances visual appeal but also introduces layers of sophisticated flavor that complement the creamy cheese base.

Final Thoughts

Although white pizza might seem intimidating, it's actually one of the most approachable dishes you can master in your home kitchen.

With just a few quality ingredients and some basic techniques, you'll create a restaurant-worthy meal that'll impress your family and friends. The key is to focus on fresh ingredients, proper temperature management, and careful preparation.

Consider experimenting with additional toppings like:

• Fresh basil leaves
• Cracked black pepper
• Arugula
• Prosciutto
• Caramelized onions

Your success depends on paying attention to details: room-temperature ingredients, a preheated pizza stone, and watching your baking time closely.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes—each attempt will improve your skills. The beauty of white pizza is its forgiving nature and potential for delicious personalization.