What Is a Chicken Pesto Garlic Pizza? A Tasty Breakdown
As soon as I walked into the pizzeria, I was attracted by the rich aroma of garlic and pesto. Today, let's explore together what chicken pesto pizza is!
What Is a Chicken Pesto Garlic Pizza?
Chicken pesto pizza is a super popular creative pizza, and its core sauce is pesto.
Traditional pesto is made from basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. This pizza also adds a large amount of garlic cloves. Garlic enhances the flavor, and the melted cheese combines all the ingredients, perfectly blending the aroma of garlic with the freshness of basil.
Garlic enhances the flavor, and the melted cheese combines all the ingredients, adding a strong Mediterranean flavor to the pizza.
What to Put on a Pesto Pizza?
There are many ingredients that can be placed on a pesto pizza. Here are some common ones:
Meat: Shredded chicken, smoked ham, bacon, or salami are common meat pairings. These meats have a rich texture, are rich in protein and fat, and can also perfectly blend with the pesto sauce.
Vegetables: Vegetables such as tomato slices, onion rings, green peppers, red peppers, or zucchini can add a crispy texture and rich colors to the pesto pizza.
Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is a classic choice for pizza. It will melt during the baking process, creating an attractive pulling effect. You can also choose Parmesan cheese to add a strong nutty flavor.
Other Ingredients: If you like seafood, you can add some shrimps or anchovies; if you want a stronger garlic flavor, you can add more garlic cloves; conversely, add less.
What Cheese Goes Well with Pesto Pizza?
Mozzarella Cheese
It is a classic choice for pesto pizza. Mozzarella cheese has a soft texture and a strong pulling effect when heated. It not only makes the pizza taste smoother but also brings a rich milky aroma to the pizza.
Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese is relatively hard in texture and has a strong nutty and savory flavor. Shaved into thin slices or grated into powder and sprinkled on the pesto pizza can instantly enhance the overall flavor.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is smooth, light, and has a delicate texture. Although it doesn't have a great pulling effect like mozzarella cheese, it can make the pizza's taste more gentle and not too overpowering, making it suitable for people who prefer a fresh taste.
Burrata Cheese
If you want your pesto pizza to look more luxurious, then burrata cheese is a great choice. It is a "bursting" cheese with a soft texture and thick cream and cheese strings inside. After baking, the cheese will melt on the pizza, bringing an amazing taste.
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese has a strong flavor with a hint of spiciness. Paired with pesto, it can make the pizza's taste more complex, regulate the separation of oil, and make the pizza look more appealing.
What Is Pesto Sauce Made Of?
Pesto is a very classic Italian sauce, and its main ingredients include fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and salt.
Fresh Basil Leaves
Fresh basil leaves have a fresh taste, with a unique fragrance and a hint of pepper flavor, which can provide a unique umami and texture for the sauce.
Pine Nuts
Pine nuts are a common nut used in classic pesto. They have a strong nutty aroma and can increase the richness of the sauce. Toasting the pine nuts in advance will make the aroma more intense.
Garlic
This is the key to enhancing the flavor of the pesto. Garlic has a spicy taste and can help enhance the layering of the pesto, making the overall flavor more intense.
Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese has a strong milky aroma and can make the taste of pesto more mellow.
Olive Oil
Olive oil has a smooth taste and can make the sauce more slippery, locking in the fragrance of basil.
Salt
As a basic seasoning, it can help balance the taste of pesto, making the taste of pesto more harmonious.
What Is Pesto Traditionally Served With?
Pasta
Pesto is traditionally paired with pasta, and the combination of the two is a perfect match! The most traditional pairings are Trofie pasta and Linguine. These two types of pasta can coat the pesto sauce well.
In addition to pasta, pesto can also be served with the following foods:
Bread: Spreading pesto on toast, baguettes, or Focaccia can enhance the flavor.
Pizza
Traditional pizza has a tomato sauce base. If pesto is used as the sauce base, it can bring a fresher flavor! The most classic combination is pesto + mozzarella cheese + chicken + tomato, which is savory and rich.
Best Chicken Pesto Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
1 pound of pizza dough
Olive oil, for brushing
2 teaspoons of cornmeal (optional)
½ cup of pesto
2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup of cooked shredded chicken
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise
½ teaspoon of coarse salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper
1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of pine nuts (toasted)
1 tablespoon of basil leaves
Steps
1.Prepare the dough: Let the prepared pizza dough sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2.Preheat the oven: Adjust the oven rack to the lowest position and set the temperature to 500ºF (260ºC).
3.Prepare the pan: Gently brush the baking pan with olive oil using a large brush. If desired, sprinkle an even layer of cornmeal on the pan.
4.Shape the dough: On a lightly floured surface, stretch and shape the dough into a 10-inch circle - transfer it to the baking pan. Press it into a 12-inch circle with your fingers. Make the edges slightly thicker, about ½ inch high and wide.
5.Add the sauce: Brush the edges with olive oil to make the crust crispier during baking. Spread the pesto on the dough.
6.Add the toppings: Layer the mozzarella cheese, chicken, and tomatoes on the dough. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly.
7.Bake: Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8.Finish: Garnish with Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and basil. Serve hot with a pizza cutter.
