Mushroom pizza w/ white sauce recipe

Time to check off the Mushroom Pizza with white sauce from your yummy “pizzas to try” list! Going with the traditional pizza crust, the base texture is baked to perfection. The white sauce is a nice diversion from the famous red tomato sauce. Inspired by French cuisine, the rich velvety garlic sauce has a lip-smacking luscious taste.

Why fall back on the toppings when the crust and sauce are so yummy? Steering clear of the common raw toppings, and gorge on these buttery sautéed mushrooms & onions. The attractive fragrance of oregano & thyme will make you salivate.

Ingredients

Learn more about this vegetarian-friendly mushroom pizza. Check out the that ingredients are needed for its preparation. 

• Cremini mushrooms
• Onion
• Butter
• Garlic
• Dried herbs
• Heavy cream
• Parmesan
• Ricotta
• Mozzarella

Cremini mushrooms have a meaty texture and subtle earthy taste. They fall in the middle-age category. White button mushrooms are cremini’s younger stage. Therefore, they are firmer and have a stronger flavor than white buttons. Cremini mushrooms are also known as “baby Bella.” At their more mature stage they’re called Portobello mushrooms.

Onions add a soft sweetness that pairs delectably with the fleshy savouriness of mushrooms. If you relish a caramelized onion flavor, first fry the sliced onions for 2 minutes. Cooking in butter helps soften them while infusing extra flavor.

The lip-smacking creamy sauce packs a distinct garlic flavor, with the aroma of dried herbs. The silky smooth texture comes from the milk & heavy cream. The nutty parmesan adds to the richness of the sauce.

Ricotta is typically made from sheep or cow milk. This Italian cheese variety has a creamy texture and salty sweet-sour flavor.

Mushroom pizza notes

You may use your favorite mushroom variety in this pizza. Just ensure you are using fresh mushrooms. Canned mushrooms are slimy. And do not offer the same texture as fresh ones.

Always sauté your mushrooms whenever using them as a pizza topping. If you put uncooked raw mushroom slices on the pizza, they with shrivel & dry out during the hot baking process. The butter from the skillet will help keep the mushrooms moist while baking.

How about a smoky white sauce on your pizza? Charr a whole garlic bulb directly on the fire till the skin blackens. Then, remove the skin, blend the garlic into a smooth puree and use for the sauce.

If you enjoy a crispy salty crust, try this trick. Before assembling the pizza, brush the edges of the raw crust with a tablespoon of olive oil and a dash of salt. You could even try this pizza on a Roman “pinsa” or a cauliflower crust.

Substitutions

This mushroom pizza recipe involves preparing 3 elements from scratch. The pizza dough, sauce, & toppings. Thus, you may buy pre-made pizza dough and focus on the garlic sauce and mushroom-onion sauté. 

Besides cremini mushrooms, you may opt for shiitake, portobello, or white button mushrooms. Moreover, a mix of mushrooms like enoki, oyster, morel, and chanterelle would be a culinary delight.

Besides the combination of mozzarella and ricotta cheese, this pizza pairs fantastically with goat cheese. Or try fresh Chevra or Brie for a mellow creamy buttery taste. For a sharp tang, opt for Cheddar or aged Gouda.

How to make mushroom pizza

1. Prepare the dough – First, add the flour, yeast and salt to a food processor. Pulse a couple times. Add the oil and mix again. Slowly pour un the warm water until the pizza dough forms. Remove and lightly knead the dough while forming a ball. Place into a bowl, oil and cover with a damp towel. Let rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Sauté the mushrooms – Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until the water evaporates. Add in some seasonings and coat well. Remove and set aside.
3. Make the sauce – Heat a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter until it melts. Then stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the flour and seasonings and whisk to create a paste. Let cook an additional minute before pouring in the milk and cream. Sprinkle in the Parmesan and whisk vigorously for a minute or 2. Let cook for 6-9 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Assemble the pizza – Place the dough on a board and roll out into a circle. Pour on some of your white sauce followed by the cheese. Sprinkle on the sautéed mushrooms then transfer to a pizza peel. Bake on a pizza stone, in a 450 degree F oven, until the crust is golden brown. Enjoy!