A creamy, sweet carrot purée takes the place of tomato sauce in this unexpected pizza. Buy carrots with the greens still attached: the bitter carrot fronds make a great topping for the pizza and balance out the natural sweetness of the carrots.
Ingredients
- For the carrot purée: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1/2 pound carrots (about 3-4 medium carrots), peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 cup mascarpone 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- For the pizza: 1/2 pound prepared pizza dough, room temperature All-purpose flour (for surface) Olive oil (for brushing)
- 8 ounces Fontina cheese, grated (about 2 cups) 1/2 medium red onion, root intact and thinly sliced lengthwise into wedges 1 cup (loosely packed) carrot fronds or baby arugula
Directions
- 1For the carrot purée:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add onions and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes, then add wine and cook, stirring often, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. - 2Reduce heat to medium-low, add salt and 1 cup water, and stir to combine. Cover and simmer until carrots are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes.
- 3Transfer mixture to a blender. Add mascarpone, cayenne, and 1/4 cup water. Remove stopper from lid or leave lid slightly ajar, cover with a towel (hot liquids can splatter), and purée until smooth.
- 4For the pizza:
Place 2 overturned rimmed baking sheets in the upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 450°F.
Divide dough in half on a lightly floured surface and form into 2 balls. Roll out balls into ovals about 6x10 inches in size (make sure they fit on baking sheets). Remove preheated sheets from oven and brush bottoms with oil. Carefully place dough on sheets and brush with more oil. Return to oven and bake until dough is beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. - 5Spread reserved carrot purée evenly on pizzas, then sprinkle with cheese and onion. Return to oven and bake pizzas, rotating the sheets and swapping their positions on the oven racks halfway through, until cheese is melted and bubbling, 10–12 minutes. Transfer pizzas to cutting boards, top with carrot fronds, and slice.
- 6Do ahead:
Carrot purée can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble the pizza.
