Harvest Pizza.
My my how things change.
I am constantly in awe of how much growing up and being an adult stinks, but sometimes I fail to realize the fun part about it. Like eating tons of delicious food. Duh.
And these thoughts play a huge part when I go away on a trip or vacation. I constantly think about how to bridge the gap between what I used to do and what I have to do now. Or what I used to want and what I want now.
It’s seriously funny.
Like back when I was ten years old and dreamed about having a boyfriend just so I could have someone to stand next to me and awkwardly place our hands in each others’ back jean pockets. Can we all give a giant collective sigh and say thank goodness that phase is over? What did that even mean? How was it EVER comfortable? I definitely missed the boat and was just a few years shy of participating in this habit, but I clearly remember wistfully staring at super cool couples walking through the mall or an amusement park or into the movies with – not their arms around each other, but – their hands in each other’s back pockets.
They are some trends that I’m all for keeping (like flare legged jeans, don’t hate) but if this ever comes back, I’ll start the petition. Ugh. I don’t even know what the modern equivalent of this back-pocket jeans lovin’ is today, but I’m sure it has something to do with a plugin, an app and Facebook. And an inappropriate camera phone.
But yeah, so I did a lot of day dreaming on vacation back then. Okay, whatever… I still do, but back then it was pretty much ALL I did. I’d read like three or four Sweet Valley High books (after I graduated from Babysitter’s Club and Goosebumps, obviously) and write stories and make up songs and spend most of my time wishing I was old enough to do fun things, like go to shady clubs which I would never venture into today… or ever. Why are parents so smart?
My brothers and cousins and I also spent a good chunk of time pleading for our parents to allow us to go to the boardwalk at night – alone, what have you – which was never permitted for fear that we’d be kidnapped or murdered or simply overdose on funnel cakes and glow stick necklaces. We also created a game called “green scum,” which had nothing to do with anything except for the fact that we were chewing green gum when we made up the name, and this was basically “tag” on crack. We would play after we showered, and as you can imagine, our parents were just thrilled that we played a game of tag – constantly running around for at least an hour – after we had cleaned up and put on nice clothes. The only thing I really cared about then was eating some fried clams, but now…
…vacation is all about the food. I mean ALL. Like it’s basically an excuse to just go into unfamiliar territory and try a bunch of restaurants recommended by invisible internet friends, and it doesn’t even matter if you order every dessert on the menu only to take a bite or two. Because you HAVE to try it all! It’s not like you’ll be back any time soon. Hear me?
I thought so.
And that’s what happened last week. Well, not the dessert part unfortunately. But.
I had this pizza… this pizza with squash and nutmeg and the most incredible sage pesto. Sage freaking pesto! If you have been hanging out with me for a few months, you might remember that I developed a serious addiction to sage last year. So I’m happy to tell you that the minute I got home… okay, the hour… the hour I got home, I made this pizza. The flavors are unbelievable and the name – harvest pizza – could not be more spot on. It’s like a big plate of autumn. And even though I may be a few days short according to the calendar, I couldn’t help but share. First, because I’m selfish and totally needed this immediately and second, because I (and you!) should make it a million times this upcoming season.
Just wanted to prepare you.
Butternut Squash, Sage Pesto and Prosciutto Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 batch of your favorite pizza dough
- 2/3 cup fresh sage leaves, torn
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups tiny-cubed butternut squash
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 6 thin slices prosciutto, torn
- 4 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 8 ounces goat cheese, sliced and crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare pizza dough and let rise. (I used my garlic bread pizza crust, omitted the garlic and herbs, and used 50% whole wheat flour.)
- While dough is rising, combine sage, pine nuts and finely grated parmesan cheese in a food processor and blend until combined. Stream in olive oil and blend until a pesto forms. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet oven medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. Toss in butternut squash cubes, along with salt, pepper and nutmeg, tossing to coat. Cover and let cook for 10 minutes, stir, then let cook for 5-10 minutes more, just so the cubes are softened but not complete mush. Set aside. In the same skillet, add another 1/2 tablespoon of butter and onions with a pinch of salt. Cover and let caramelize for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the onions are finished, I removed them from the skillet and actually tossed in my prosciutto over low heat, stirring occasionally with a fork. This isn’y necessary but I loved how it helped crisp up the meat.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Once dough has risen and you are ready to assemble pizza, spread 2-3 tablespoons of pesto all over dough. I suggest using a very thin layer unless you LOVE sage. Top with half of the grated parm, then spread butternut squash on evenly. Add the onions on next. Top with torn prosciutto pieces, then strategically place goat cheese over the pizza. Sprinkle with remaining parm. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Eat!
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
And no I will not stick my hands in your back pockets.
121 Comments on “Harvest Pizza.”
Confession: I’ve never used fresh sage in anything before, but I keep wanting to buy a bundle of it at the greengrocer’s to experiment with. Now I have a reason!
oh wow! this looks incredible! I love sage, I love goat cheese and I love pizza. I must make this!
I saw that sage in the processor and thought – hmm the return of sage.
Oh man am I craving this pizza! Had to chuckle, I LOVED Sweet Valley High! Totally, like, loved it.
And the back pocket thing? Yeah, I wasn’t like, cool enough, like, to do that. You know? Like. Yeah.
Sorry….Sweet Valley High reminds me of the endless days trying to talk like them!!
Loved Babysitter’s Club….ever read Fabulous Five? I’m with you on the flared jeans. I love butternut squash with pesto on a pizza, but I’ve never tried a sage pesto….very interesting. I’ll have to do some experimenting on pizza night next week.
Oh this sounds so tasty!
So…the back pocket dreaming things started when you were TEN?!?
Great. I’ve got 2 years before I lose my son forever.
Also, this pizza needs to be in my house. Like, right now.
This looks so perfect! I have some sage on my balcony that amazingly hasn’t died yet–need to use it before it does!
It’s not even 8am.. And now I need pizza.
I have made pizza like this without the prosciutto! It’s my favorite! Amazing flavors!!! Your pizza look so yummy!!
Love the savory aspects of this dish! I wanted a boyfriend just to have someone to ride the Old Mill with at Kennywood, and now I have a husband and it’s that stupid Garfield ride. Lame.
I’ll sign that petition of yours if the hand-in-each-other’s-back-pockets comes back in style! I also remember spending a lot of time as a kid wishing I was older so I could do x, y, or z, and now I’d give anything to go back to being 8 or 10 again! Those were some of my favourite years, even though I was still required to ask my mum before I could call a friend to come over, and it was like the biggest treat in the world to be allowed to go for a sleepover. Other than that, kid years are awesome! And so is this pizza…. I’m obsessed with squash!!
Dinner! Right here. Thank you! Sage pesto – this looks amazing!! I’ve been craving pizza all week, it’s like you read minds!! Can’t wait to try this ღ
I had butternut squash pizza on our dinner list for next week, since we got our first one in our CSA basket this weekend, but didn’t have all the details worked out… Now, I do! Thanks!
I’m terrified of making pizza at home. I’ve tried a couple of times with store-bought pizza dough and nothing has turned out even remotely acceptable. I was looking at your recipe for pizza dough last night actually, trying to get up the courage to give it a go, and low and behold this morning I woke up to this. Dinner tonight! Wish me luck!
Img sweet valley high! In lovef those books i used to read them under the covers of my bed with a flashlight at 7 on a school night because thats when my parents would tell me it was bedtime, and shut te shades so the sun couldnt get inside! Haha! Seriously? Now i thank them for their disciplinary action that rhey took back then which im sure benefitted them in every way so that they could watch jag or whatever show was on tv then! O and fridays were pizza nights in my house this is definitely happening friday!
This looks like heaven on a plate! I’m dying to know where you had this? I live in Cape May and I need to track down a piece of this amazingness pronto!
Lucky Bones! :)
Well that just solved the “what’s for dinner” question. Totally going there tonight to indulge! Thanks!
Scrumptious! I’m going to make sure I grow sage next year so I always have fresh on hand but I’ll make a run to TJ’s to make this bad boy.
So versatile…on top of specialty pizza like this, we use a pizza to give the fridge a clear out once a week!
Yum, yum, yum! And yes, I’m so thankful those phases have passed. What did it even mean?
Goosebumps scared the bejesus out of me, and it still might…
I think I’ll give the hands in the back pocket thing a shot, along with this pizza.
oh yum! I had a pizza similar to this recently with ricotta instead of goat cheese and cranberries instead of prosciutto…it was like thanksgiving in my mouth! This sounds so delicious! We will definitely be trying this soon!
CRANBERRIES!!!!!
couple of questions for you.
do you ever make your dough in advance and freeze it? i’ve been meaning to get on top of my life, and part of that is being more prepared at dinner time. we both work full time, so making pizza dough after work has us eating at bed time.
i’d also like to get into the habit of cooking a chicken on sundays. theres a roaster in the freezer waiting for me.
i’m not super big on goat cheese. is there anything else you’d suggest? mascarpone, ricotta, just mozzarella?
sage pesto sounds awesome.
I’ve never made the dough ahead of time (I’m not that much of a planner) but many readers have made it the night before and used it the next day, or even put it in the freezer and told me about it. So I’m pretty sure it works though I haven’t personally tried it!
I think mozzarella would prob be your best bet, but some spoonfuls of ricotta may be good too.
Sage pesto? This is why I love you!
Vacations are so much cooler now – – I just came back from trinidad and all I can remember is the food – – and the beaches – – but mostly the food.
Also, I use to read SVH all the time too … and BSC … I couldn’t read goosebumps, I was far too scared :$ it’s true.
Can we talk about this pizza … I want to marry it. Thanks for completing my life :)
Sage is back! I’m all foer the return of flare-legged jeans as well.
I love those tiny butternut squash cubes—too cute.
You had me at sage pesto.
i am in love with this pizza idea! the flavor combinations sound so delectable. If you don’t mind me asking, What is the name of the place where you had this pizza?
Lucky Bones!
thanks! I have always wanted to try that place out but I usually end up eating at the lobster house across the street! you have convinced me to give it a try!
Lobster House has always been one of our faves too but Lucky Bones is really good! Great pizza and apps.
this is going on the menu for next week. yum!
We definitely get wiser as we get older, especially where food is concerned. This pizza looks awesome!
love love love the idea of the sage pesto with the butternut squash. amazing!! def on my fall to-make list!
*sigh* i DO remember my sister doing the hands in back pocket thinger. i hold my dudes hand but can only hold three fingers because his hands are so big. he crushes me any other way. so it’s our thing *insert cuteness*. love this recipe but will try a different cheese. Goat cheese makes me gag a tiny bit.
Hi there! Long time blog reader/Pinner but I don’t comment as often as I should. This pizza looks delicious and so perfectly FALL :o)
Thank you for the comment!
this looks absolutely delicious! I am making homemade pizza Wednesday night and now I’m considering throwing some sage into the mix as well – great idea!
This looks delicious! I will put pretty much anything on a pizza, but squash and prosciutto? How did that never cross my mind? Can’t wait to try it!
I laughed when I saw the photo of the sage in your food processor. Getting an early start this year! I am ALL over this pizza. 100%
This sounds amazing! I made a butternut squash pizza last year and loved it. Definitely need to try it this way though with the sage pesto. Yum!
Oh my goodness you made a pesto sauce out of sage. LOVE!
Holy FREAKING moly, this sounds ridiculously amazing. You are my hero.
This. Looks. INCREDIBLE. Funny, I was just trimming the crazy overgrown sage bush in my herb garden a couple of days ago and throwing away all the trimmings (gasp, I know) and thought to myself, would a pesto made out of sage work? Naaaaah… and then threw it in the big green bin. Yeah, kicking myself.
Yum! Wat a beautiful pizza!!!
i’m gonna need this pizza in my belly STAT. looks absolutely delicious!
Found something that is right up your alley – s’more martini
http://www.apartystyle.com/search?updated-max=2011-08-26T19%3A49%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7 Looks yummy! (Yep, I’m a Pinterest addict.)
Squash, sage, pesto, oh this looks like a fabulous pizza! Love the steam shot coming off from the squash!
A perfect pizza to usher in the fall! Love it!
I wish I had a few slices of this pizza to stuff into my mouth right now…YUM! :-)
i loved sweet valley high! i always thought it would be so cool to be BFFs with the wakefields.
this fall pizza looks divine!
That’s an incredible looking pizza. I have to make this.
Flared jeans are the best!!!
Oh wow! This pizza looks amazing!! And, I’ll admit, I stared wistfully at those back-pocket-holder couples too…and when I finally got my first boyfriends, I think I tried it once, realized it hurt your arm to have it in such an awkward position with the other person’s arm hitting yours too…all a mess.
Sweet Valley High…wow does that bring back memories..haha! By the way, I am all for the flared jeans, too….I still wear mine all the time and refuse to succomb to the skinny jeans. They just don’t look good on me! This pizza is fabuloso!