Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper + Fontina Pizza with Balsamic Glaze.
I know. I hate when people say that too.
But seriously? You look like you need it.
No offense or anything. It’s just that it’s the end of the first week of the new year. Like… stress city. You totally deserve pizza.
This pie is loaded with caramelized shallots (!), roasted red peppers (double !), tons of crispy bacon (!!!!!) and lots of cheeeeeeese. And my undying love, of course. Oh… and hunger.
I’m pretty sure my entire soul melted away with the fontina and parmesan as I took a bite. HO.LY.FLA.VOR.
I mean, I used to think that fontina was really good, and that bacon was incredible, and that roasted red peppers were super. But then… then I added a balsamic reduction on top and I’m pretty sure I died. Like I’m dead right now. I’m talking to you from the heavens. I hope. But maybe not. I have this little problem called gluttony… sooooo there’s that.
Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper + Fontina Pizza with Balsamic Glaze
makes one pizza
dough: (my go-to recipe)
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
In the bowl of your electric mixer with an attached dough hook, combine warm water, yeast, honey and oil and mix with a spoon. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until foamy, then add in flour and salt. Mix on low speed until just combined, then turn to medium speed to knead the dough for 5-6 minutes. If it seems to sticky, add a bit more flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
Brush a separate bowl with olive oil, add dough, turning once, then set in a warm place to rise for 1 1/2-2 hours. Cover with a damp towel.
pizza:
2 slices thick-cut bacon
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2 roasted red peppers, cut into strips
1 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
6 ounces freshly grated fontina cheese
2 ounces freshly grated romano cheese + more for topping if desired
1 1/2 cups balsamic vinegar
Right before dough is almost finished rising, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy and fat is rendered. Remove with a slotted spoon, then add shallots and stir to coat. Cook for about 10 minutes over low heat, or until shallots begin to caramelize. Set aside. While shallots are cooking, make sure that red peppers are patted dry (if from a jar). If you’d like to make your own roasted red peppers, see here.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Once pizza dough is ready to go, roll/press into desired shape and brush the surface with olive oil and top with minced garlic. Sprinkle on 4 ounces of fontina cheese, then top with shallots, red peppers, and bacon. Sprinkle remaining fontina and romano evenly on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
While pizza is baking, heat vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow to come to a boil, then let simmer and cook for about 15-20 minutes until reduced to about 1/3-1/2 cup. Set aside to cool for at least 10 minutes to thicken. When pizza is finished baking, drizzle glaze on top and serve.
The only thing that could be better here is if that glaze was chocolate syrup. I know you thought so too.
139 Comments on “Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper + Fontina Pizza with Balsamic Glaze.”
This looks amazing! I totally think I need pizza. Soon! :D And that balsamic glaze looks incredible!
Wow this looks like the PERFECT pizza, delicious!! :)
I may just try your go to wheat dough recipe tonight … if hunger permits the 1 – 2 rise … :)
I think you should make pizza every Friday! :) Thanks for this recipe. I have a stupid question–do you cut the bacon before cooking it, or do you just cut it up once it’s crispy? I guess it really doesn’t matter, but I think I’ll slice it up into 1/4 inch pieces before I put it in the skillet.
So how exactly did you know that I had a block of fontina just waiting to be used?! Have you been sneaking into my place and peeking in my fridge? As long as you do not steal my bacon, that is OK. But the chocolate? Now that is a different story.
What size plate is that? 4in? 6in?
It’s about 4 1/2 inches.
The balsamic glaze seriously does look like chocolate. Maybe if we pretend those red strips were Twizzlers & it had marshmallow frosting, this would taste like it’s dessert!
This pizza sounds and looks amazing! I love fontina cheese on pizza. I’ve never tried balsamic though, I can’t wait to try it!
Yum. I have an Emile Henry pizza stone coming in the mail (as a belated Christmas gift to myself) and this will make the perfect inaugural pizza!
I never see myself as a “pizza person”–I generally get a salad unless I’m truly in the mood for my stomach to declare greasy cheesy war on me later. But this rule tends to be broken for good, thin crust, rustic pizza with interesting toppings. Maybe I’m just a pizza snob. This would definitely be a pizza I’d risk it for :)
Stumbled upon your blog while looking for new foodie/cooking blogs to follow, and have added you to my reader. Happy New Year! :)
Glad you found me!
Um…this looks ammmmazing!!! I’ll have to make it on Sunday and have it while I watch the Broncos beat those Steelers!! :)
OH my. make me dinner. now. woman.
This is perfect for me to try out my new kitchen goodies I got for Christmas! My sweet mom gave me a new cast iron pizza pan & one of those wooden things you build your pizza on then slide it into the oven with ( my brain is at a lose for its. real name)
A pizza peel? I want one!
I’m super excited to use it!
I want this in my belly, like, yesterday! It’s on like Donkey Kong with this pizza and soon! Happy New Year!
Balsamic glaze. I’m dying. There would be no sharing involved this were in front of me.
Omg, yum! So I tried making your pom balsamic glaze before but I could not stand the smell of it! Are you suppose to cover it while it’s reducing?
Wow really? It probably depends on the brand/type of vinegar, and your definitely don’t want to stand over top of it but other than that I can’t smell it at all. You definitely don’t want to cover it – maybe try a different brand of balsamic?
I haven’t been able to perfect a whole wheat pizza crust, so I am all over this!
This looks fantastic!! Balsamic glaze is something that I always try to make and end up burning. I did it right before a party once and my entire house smelled like burnt balsamic. If you are unfamiliar with that smell you are very lucky!
Oh no… I burnt it once. Terrible.
Oh….that looks Sooooo insanely delicious!!
Pingback: Friday Favorites!! « mommysmenu
Sold entirely by the balsamic glaze! I swear it could make me eat cardboard!! (though I know your pizza tastes MUCH better!)
Pingback: Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper + Fontina Pizza with Balsamic … at Zapraszamy na pizzę farmerską!
Oh my gosh, this looks fabulous–except for those little roasted peppers. I just cannot eat roasted peppers, something about the texture totally turns me off (in fact, the only peppers I enjoy are raw). Do you have any suggestions/ideas for anything to replace them? The rest looks wonderful, the two cheeses, bacon and balsamic…yum!
Do you like peppers on pizza that aren’t roasted? You could always just add red peppers to the pizza – I find that they usually have some crunch left. Or maybe roasted tomatoes?
I’m indifferent about peppers on pizza that aren’t pre-roasted, so that’s a definite possibility (the hubs loves them). I am, however, in love with roasted tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, etc….so that sounds delicious as well! Thanks!
Yep – that definitely does look like the best pizza in the world. I will be making that … maybe tomorrow for supper!
I need to get my pizza on… like right now.
Balsamic glaze is the best invention ever. It’s so flavorful and so simple to make. I made it the other day to top my mozzarella and tomato salad. On a pizza, however, sounds even better! Best thing about it, not a topping that adds calories, only flavor.
I just found your website and I am so happy that I did! I just moved into my own apartment and I am useless in the kitchen. Hopefully I will find something here to learn to cook :)
Wow, yummy…what a great idea with the balsamic glaze!
This look fantastic!
That balsamic glaze has stopped me dead in my tracks – YUM!
This looks so incredibly delicious! I wish I had a piece for lunch right now! I love balsamic on anything and your crust looks relatively easy and quick to put together.
Add some black pepper and a touch of sugar to the balsamic glaze and try it over baked salmon…out of this world good.
Great recipe! I dont have a dough attachment though, am I still able to make the dough?
Can’t wait to try it! But first I must buy yeast. My children used up all my yeast making donuts and bagels when they were here for Christmas.
Adding ingredients to the shopping list and adjusting menu for pizza Tuesday night. Just might add a little dark chocolate sauce at the end.
1 – I just drooled all over myself (my husband thinks I’m weird…I’m guessing you do too) 2 – you know my love for balsamic glaze and O M G that looks better than life
Pingback: Meal Planning And A Book Review of Before I Fall Dina Runs
I made this pizza last night. A-mazing! I subbed the bacon for prosciutto that I crisped up in the frying pan (I somehow always have prosciutto on hand, never bacon, not sure what that says about my fridge…). The bites with all of the components were little flavor bombs!
I made this for supper tonight and it was fabulous! I didn’t have Fontina cheese on hand and I don’t know what it tastes like, so I tried spreading a light smear of goat cheese all over the crust before adding the other toppings and it ROCKED! I used a whole head of roasted garlic and added it in large chunks. Can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow at lunch! My co-workers will be so jealous :)
do you prefer Italian or Danish fontina?
Pingback: Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper + Fontina Pizza with Balsamic Glaze | Galaxy Fitness Club's Blog
Pingback: Whole Wheat Roasted Red Pepper + Fontina Pizza with Balsamic Glaze | Westmoreland Athletic Club's Blog
I made this a couple nights ago and OMG it was delicious. Except my balsamic glaze was a total fail, which was a bummer since that’s the single thing that drove me to make it in the first place. Still, just FYI for the future, this pizza is awesome even without the glaze! :)
I just made this and ate two slices. Delicious! My balsamic glaze was a total fail as well, but this pizza was still awesome. The combination of the shallots, bacon, peppers, and cheeses is amazing! :)
Pingback: Fontina and Portabello Pizza « Cate's World Kitchen
Pingback: Have Your Pizza and Eat it too! Low Cal Red Pepper + Fontina Balsamic Pizza « Stylish Piggy
The balsamic glaze is a great idea!
Pingback: of the moment {2.4.12} | The Daily Crumb
Pingback: Whole Wheat Roasted Red and Yellow Pepper Pizza | Yeah…imma eat that.
Hey Jessica,
Have you ever frozen this dough? I would love to double it and freeze half (and use half). I’ve done this with a regular pizza crust before