Recipe: Burrata Pizza Two Ways

During the first lockdown when I was on my own in London for three weeks, I mainly lived on food from Natoora. Partly because they offer wonderful produce and partly because it was impossible to get a delivery from any of the supermarkets.

As consequence I ate very well during these weeks although in a frugal way. So instead of devouring a burrata in one sitting (which is easily done) I tried to make it go further by pairing it with pasta and pizza.

And that’s how I came up with these two burrata pizzas! They’re both delicious in their own way, and I can highly recommend making your own burrata pizzas from scratch in a lockdown. It’s a fun project AND it tastes amazing. So let’s get to the recipe!

Italian pizza dough, makes 2

500 g 00-flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried yeast

325 ml lukewarm water

Mix flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the yeast. Add the water bit by bit while stirring with a wooden fork. Knead the dough until elastic. Cut the dough into two and shape to round balls. Put the dough balls back in the mixing bowl, sprinkle with flour and cover. Place somewhere warm and let it rise for 90 minutes. 

Tomato sauce, enough for 2 pizzas

1 tbsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tin (400 g) chopped tomatoes

Add olive oil to a non-stick saucepan on medium heat. Add the garlic and stir for a minute or so, add the tomato paste followed by the tinned tomatoes and a splash of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, until slightly thickened, 15–20 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar and set aside until needed.

Burrata pizza with pesto and fresh basil

1/2 pizza dough

1/2 batch tomato sauce

75 ml grated mozzarella

75 ml grated cheddar

1/2 large burrata or 1 smaller

approx 3 tbsp fresh pesto

small bunch basil leaves, sliced

Shape the dough into a round pizza or use a rolling pin to roll it out thinly. Spread a thin layer or tomato sauce on the pizza. Add the grated cheese. Add salt and papper and bake in 225C, in a low oven, for 8-10 minutes.

Once crispy and golden, remove from the oven. Divide the burrata on the pizza. Drizzle with pesto and scatter with sliced basil leaves.

Burrata pizza with prosciutto, sliced tomatoes and basil

1/2 pizza dough

1/2 batch tomato sauce

75 ml grated mozzarella

75 ml grated cheddar

3-4 slices prosciutto

1 tomato, sliced

1/2 large burrata or 1 smaller

small bunch basil leaves, sliced

Shape the dough into a round pizza or use a rolling pin to roll it out thinly. Spread a thin layer or tomato sauce on the pizza. Add the grated cheese and place the prosciutto and tomato slices on top. Add salt and papper and bake in 225C, in a low oven, for 8-10 minutes.

Once crispy and golden, remove from the oven. Divide the burrata on the pizza. Drizzle with olive oil. Add black pepper and basil leaves.

Recipe: weeknight puff pastry pizza

As much as I love to make and eat proper Italian pizzas, it’s usually not something I make on a weeknight for just myself. But to avoid buying the inferior supermarket pizzas I often make tortilla pizzas or use store-bought puff pastry as my pizza base.

I have posted a recipe for puff pastry pizza here before, but that was a weekend version with brown butter and salmon roe. The weeknight version is much less refined, but just as yummy.

If you want to use a tomato base, then please make your own tomato sauce instead of using a store-bought jar. You will taste the difference I promise. I used a white base of creme fraiche (cream cheese works well too) instead, which is definitely the quickest option unless you already have tomato sauce to hand.

Weeknight puff pastry pizza, serves 2

1 roll store-bought all butter puff pastry

3-4 tbsp full fat creme fraiche

2-3 handfuls grated cheddar

salt and pepper

8-10 slices of salami (or whatever topping you like)

Cover a large baking tray with parchment paper and roll out your puff pastry. Spread an even layer of creme fraiche on top. Add the grated cheese and season with salt and pepper. Add the salami or other topping and bake in a 200C oven (220C without fan) for approx 10-15 minutes. The top should be golden and the pastry cooked through. Divide into two. Any leftovers can be eaten cold or reheated in a low oven (not microwave).

Recipe: Puff Pastry Pizza with Browned Butter, Creme Fraiche, Red Onions, Salmon Roe and Herbs

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Puff pastry pizza seems to be trending in my native Sweden and inspired by Swedish foodie Tuvessonskan I thought I would give it a try too!

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A adapted her recipe slightly but kept the idea of spreading a browned butter mixture over store-bought puff pastry, scatter with grated cheddar and bake it before adding the rest of the (very Scandinavian) toppings.

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I love the classic combination of creme frachie, chopped red onions and fish roe and it works great on puff pastry too, especially when enhanced further with herbs and lemon.

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Puff pastry pizza with browned butter, creme fraiche, red onions, salmon roe and herbs, serves 4 as nibbles or a starter

Adapted fromTuvessonskan’s recipe.

1/2 roll all butter puff pastry 

50 g butter

50 g philadelphia

2 tbsp creme fraiche

approx 200 ml grated cheddar

salt and pepper

Topping:

100 ml creme fraiche

1 jar salmon (or other fish) roe

1/2 red onions, finely chopped

a bunch chives, finely chopped

a bunch dill, finely chopped

1/2 lemon, the juice

salt and pepper

Brown the butter 30 minutes in advance. Leave to cool in room temperature. Mix the cooled butter with philadelphia and creme fraîche in a bowl. Add salt and pepper. Spread the mixture over the puff (leaving the edges bare if you like) and scatter with the cheddar. Bake in 200C fan or 220 C without fan until the puff is golden and the cheese has melted. Leave to cool. 

One the baked puff is cooled, spoon or pipe the creme fraîche onto it, then the salmon roe. Scatter with red onions and herbs. Season and finish by squeezing a bit of lemon juice over it. Cut into pieces (either cut in four and serve as a starter on plates or cut into small bites and serve on a tray or platter). 

 

Copenhagen: Bæst Revisited!

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Since we only go to Copenhagen once a year it’s tricky to balance the urge to go back to old favourites with the excitement of trying new ones. So we do a bit of both, resulting in a day of feasting our way around the beautiful city. But as we get around mostly by walking it works!

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So after trying a new bar, a new restaurant for lunch and another new bar, we went back to Bæst for their amazing pizzas! We loved it so much last year and it was just as good this time around.

But since we had had something yummy to eat at Rudo too, we didn’t go crazy ordering all the menu, which we did last year. We had just one starter; the garlic bread with lardo which was just lovely!

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And then we moved on to what we were here for: the pizzas! Or more specifically, that Margherita I’ve dreamt about for a whole year! And yep, it was just as amazing as I remembered it!

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But we did broaden our horizons a little trying two new pizzas too. This one with stracciatella, garlic, mushrooms and herbs was really nice (but almost a little too herby for my liking).

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And lastly we had this one with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, prosciutto and rocket. Also really really good, but the margherita is the best ever! So when you go (because it’s just a matter of time really, you totally should go!), make sure you ordered it!

Bæst, Guldbergsgade 29, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark

Recipe: weeknight tortilla pizza

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I must admit I don’t particularly enjoy cooking for one. I think it’s because I put my energy into cooking for others. I enjoy that whole process; planning a menu, cooking it, presenting it and sharing it with loved ones. So when it’s just me I prefer something quick and simple. But something that tastes better than a ready meal!

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These tortilla pizzas actually fit that bill perfectly. Because when you buy a store-bought pizza, I always think it’s a bit dull. The dough is dry, the toppings lacking a bit in flavour and so on.

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Using a tortilla as the pizza base makes it less bread-y and heavy, and therefore perfect for a weeknight treat with a salad. To make sure I can always whip this up I keep homemade tomato sauce (so useful for other dishes as well) in portion packs in my freezer at all times, as well as tortillas. They defrost in seconds. And I always always have cheese in my fridge. And right there you have a margherita.

But I usually have ham, salami, mushrooms or something else laying around that I can put on the pizza to make it more substantial. It’s also a great way to fridge-forage and using up odd ends!

I honestly think this is the perfect weeknight supper for one. It’s warming, comforting and yummy but takes mere minutes to make!

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Tortilla pizza, per pizza

1 flour tortilla

2 tbsp tomato sauce (I make a batch and freeze it in portions) 

50 ml grated cheese or 1/2 mozzarella torn into pieces  

toppings of your choice such as ham, salami, fried mushrooms, vegetables, blur cheese, pineapple, chicken etc. 

1 tsp dried oregano

Spread tomato sauce onto the tortilla. Scatter with grated cheese. Add the toppings of your choice. Scatter with oregano. Bake in 200C for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. 

Norfolk: pizza at The Jolly Sailors

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August in Norfolk is peak season, and the heat wave probably added to that. We’re talking car queues on every road leading to the beach, full car parks, looong ice cream queues, and packed beaches. So you can imagine that if you want a last minute reservation to a restaurant you have to be verrrry lucky.

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That’s why I really like places like The Jolly Sailors, where you don’t need to book (unless you’re a large group), can just show up on a whim, order a pizza and find yourself a table underneath vines and fairy lights.

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It’s rustic, semi-cosy, but also welcome to all. There’s an eclectic mix of guests and a large playground for the kiddos out back. And they make good pizzas (and offer takeaway too).

We had a very impromptu date night here on our last night, and as much as I love fancy restaurants and elaborate menus, sometimes a pizza in a beer garden with someone special is just the ticket.

The Jolly Sailors, Main Road, Brancaster Staithe PE31 8BJ

Recipe: pizza bianco with truffle salami and burrata

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I heart truffle. If I sea truffle on a menu my mouth starts watering and I have to have it. And I savour every bite. So imagine my delight (and surprise) when I found a packet (yes, packet – not even in the deli counter!!) of thinly sliced salami with truffle in my Swedish supermarket. I immediately grabbed a burrata nearby and decided on making this pizza.

Which I loved as much as I thought I would. I heart truffle. And burrata. But a nice grassy olive oil is key too.

Pizza bianco with truffle salami and burrata, makes 1 pizza

1/4 pizza dough 

flour for rolling

2-3 tbsp creme fraiche

1/4 buffalo mozzarella, torn into smaller pieces

100 ml grated Västerbotten cheese (mature cheddar works too) 

16-20 thin slices truffle salami (I actually found mine in the supermarket)

1 burrata 

1-2 tbsp good grassy olive oil

sea salt and black pepper

Roll out the dough with the help of a rolling pin on a floured surface. Place the rolled out pizza base on a parchment paper covered baking tray. Spread out the creme fraiche on the pizza base. Divide the mozzarella and the grated Västerbotten cheese.  Bake in a 220C (200C fan) oven for 8-10 minutes, until the base is crisp, the cheese has melted and the whole thing is golden brown.

Remove the pizza from the oven and cover it with truffle salami. Tear the burrata into smaller pieces and scatter them on the pizza. Drizzle with nice olive oil. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt and add a generous amount of freshly ground pepper. 

Not the best week but at least the weekend was nice

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This past week wasn’t much fun, I must admit. On Monday I had to go home from work and then spent most of the week in bed with some kind of tummy virus. I was still exhausted towards the end of the week but managed to drag myself to the office for a few hours on Thursday before going home to bed again. I really don’t like being ill (but who does!?) and for me the worst part is not having any energy at all, and having to cancel plans. Last week I had to cancel both a book club gathering and a dear friend’s birthday celebrations, which pains me so much.

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Friday I managed almost a full day in the office and afterwards we went out for a quick bite to eat (I was too tired to cook) before going to the cinema to see Bohemian Rhapsody. Which was absolutely brilliant. I loved it so much and Rami Malek was excellent as Freddie Mercury! A must see!

Saturday I rested as much as I could during the day so I could go to a friend’s surprise birthday party in the evening. It was great fun to see her very surprised face when she realised she wasn’t having a date night with her husband but drinks and dinner with a large group of friends instead!

Sunday was a quiet affair with takeaway burgers, The Handmaid’s Tale and a good film. We saw The Founder about the McDonald’s empire and it was really good! A nice relaxing ending to a not so nice week.

Copenhagen: dinner at Bæst

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As you know I like to eat, and when I once a year have my day with friends (who luckily also likes their food) in Copenhagen, we make the most of it. Which is why we could fit in tacos for lunch (followed by some smørrebrød because why not?!), fika at our favourite place, wine and cheese pre-dinner at this nice little spot and then still had room for dinner. The August heat and the walking helped though.

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Bæst, our dinner spot for the evening was recommended by Daniel and all three of us loved it. It was laid back and cosy, and obviously a popular spot because it filled up as we sat there.

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The menu reflects the casual atmosphere and has the emphasis is on good local organic produce and sharing plates. Just what we like!

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The grilled courgette and kale salad what we started with was really nice. It had texture, a nice charred flavour on the courgette and acidity and freshness as well. It’s the kind of vegetable dish that makes you feel good.

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Next up we had a huge plate of chicken wings, covered in a herb-y finger-licking sauce. Delicious! And a lot fresher on the palate than regular buffalo wings (which I love, but this version was more interesting).

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After that we were ready for the main event; the pizzas!

Cooked in a 500C (!) oven these blistery, still soft but cooked just enough pizzas are to die for.

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Especially the classic margherita. With a delicious tomato sauce, their own (!) mozzarella and basil.

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I mean, look at this. Pizza perfection.

Bæst, Guldbergsgade 29, 2200 København N

Recipe: pizza bianco with pears and Saint Agur

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The last one of the pizzas I made in Sweden in the summer is this one with pears and my favourite blue cheese St Agur. It’s a very classic flavour combination that works really well on the bianco base. And I can assure you it was as yummy as it looks!

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But, as I always strive towards perfection, I do think it would be even nicer with some added crunch in the form of chopped walnuts and an extra hint of sweetness with a drizzle of Acacia honey. I tried to find both these ingredients in the beach house but as it’s not as well stocked as our regular kitchen I came out empty. As you can tell I didn’t really plan all the pizza toppings beforehand, but got carried away mid-baking.

Edit 4 February 2019: I made this again on New Year’s Day, this time with the chopped walnuts and acacia honey. And it really elevated the pizza! I highly recommend it. The honey contrasted nicely against the salty cheese and the walnuts added another dimension with their crunch and bitterness. Yum! See last picture. 

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Pizza bianco with pears and Saint Agur, makes 1 pizza

1/4 pizza dough 

flour for rolling

2-3 tbsp creme fraiche

1/4 buffalo mozzarella, torn into smaller pieces

100 ml grated Präst cheese (mature cheddar works too) 

2 pears, thinly sliced lenghtways

40 g Saint Agur, broken into smaller pieces

sea salt and black pepper

To serve:

chopped walnuts and a drizzle of acacia honey 

Roll out the dough with the help of a rolling pin on a floured surface. Place the rolled out pizza base on a parchment paper covered baking tray. Spread out the creme fraiche on the pizza base. Divide the mozzarella and the grated Präst cheese. Add the pear slices and distribute the Saint Agur. Season. Bake in a 220C (200C fan) oven for 8-10 minutes, until the base is crisp, the cheese has melted and the whole thing is golden brown. Remove from oven, add walnuts and honey and cut into slices.