Meyer Lemon Pizza.
Wait! Stop running away.
I swear this isn’t as bad as it seems. I swear I’m not trying to serve you a PIZZA WITH LEMONS.
Well. That’s a lie. I definitely am. Surely, I did put lemons on your pizza. I put lemons on your pizza on this fine Monday in January, this Monday that marks the definitive end of the holiday season, because you know since last week still held a holiday, I partied it up all the way until last night at midnight. And by partied it up I mean I went to the mall, ate a hot dog, watched Anchorman and was in bed by 10. I also emotionally ate half a bag of Popchips because… it’s January. Ew. January.
Oh but can I tell you that it was the best hot dog of my life? It had grilled onions and sautéed mushrooms and cheese and ketchup and all sorts of incredible hot dog-like things that I would never be brave enough to get on my own hot dog but did so anyway. I may never be the same again.
Okay I’m done.
So these lemons brighten things up a bit. I neeeeeed it. Snow, cold, slush, gray… that’s all I see right now. Finding these meyer lemons totally made my weekend, which may be the overstatement of the year but 1. you should not expect anything less from me, 2. it’s only the seventh day of the year and 3. it might just be true.
I’d love to take sole credit for such a delicious idea but it would be a complete lie. I’ve been waiting (and I do mean WAITING) to recreate this recipe for over six months; it was six months ago when I first tasted a pizza like this in Carmel that practically everyone but me ordered. I’m pretty sure I went with whatever had “fig” and “bacon” in the description because I am incredibly predictable, and while it was fantastic I definitely stole bites and bites and bites from the meyer lemon pizzas surrounding me. My adventurous palate was a big fat fail that day and I’ve been paying for it ever since. Who knew that Pittsburgh wasn’t exactly a hub for meyer lemon trees? Huh.
A gigantic disclaimer: if you are craving pizza, and I’m talking REAL pizza, like sauce and piles upon piles of cheese and some pepperoni and maybe even sausage, this is really not the pizza you should make. Don’t get me wrong, it is freaking fabulous. And I say fabulous because I also watched a four hour Sex and the City marathon yesterday. But you have to be willing to try something new, to go outside the box, and seriously… you sort of have to enjoy citrus. This will not give you a gooey cheese fix.
It will, however, give you a whole new flavor experience and it might blow your mind a little bit. It begins with a creamy parmesan garlic spinach then just adds layer upon layer of flavor. The key is to slice the meyer lemons – which are more sweet than tart – super thin. That way, you eat the entire slice without issue – yes, even the rind – and it adds a freshness to the spinach and prosciutto that is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Considering this may be pretty wild and crazy to some, your best bet may be serving it as a flatbread-type appetizer in addition to something more hearty or dare I say… normal.
Or else you could just make the entire thing for dinner and eat it yourself. No biggie.
Meyer Lemon Pizza
Ingredients
crust
- 1 1/8 cups warm water
- 3 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
pizza
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 ounces fresh spinach
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese, you could sub cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces sliced prosciutto
- 6 ounces goat cheese
- 2 meyer lemons, very thinly sliced with seeds removed
- finely grated parmesan for sprinkling
Instructions
crust
- In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, honey and olive oil. Mix with a spoon, then let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add in 2 1/2 cups flour and salt, stirring with a spoon until the dough comes together but it still sticky. Using your hands, form the dough into a ball and work in the additional 1/2 cup flour, kneading it on a floured surface for a few minutes. Rub the same bowl with olive oil then place the dough inside, turning to coat. Cover with a towel and place in a warm place to rise for about 1 1/2 hours.
- After the dough has risen, punch it down and place it back on the floured surface. Using a rolling pin or your hands, form it into your desired shape (sometimes I use baking sheets and do rectangles or free form pizzas – this specific dough will yield one pizza large enough to feed about 3-4 people) and place on a baking sheet or pizza stone. Place the towel back over the dough and let sit in the warm place for 10 minutes.
pizza
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat and add garlic. Cook for one minute then add spinach, tossing well to coat. Cook until wilted, about 5-6 minutes, then stir in the mascarpone and parmesan until creamy. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, stir well, then set aside.
- Brush remaining olive oil all over pizza dough, then evenly distribute creamy spinach mixture over top. Place torn slices of prosciutto on next, then crumble goat cheese all over the pizza. Finally, layer on the thin slices of lemon and top with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until crust and cheese is golden. Remove and let cool slightly, then slice!
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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154 Comments on “Meyer Lemon Pizza.”
This is definitely my kind if pizza – I don’t discriminate when it comes to pizza. Meyer lemons make me happy. They belong in January don’t you think?
Looks great, happy new year friend!!
I was first skeptical looking at the lemons on that pizza, but then decided to throw all skepticism away because your pizza recipes are awesome! We use your whole wheat crust recipe at my house. I partied it up too this weekend – watched I Love You Man, ate alot of pizza and went shopping. And went to the pool too, since I live in Florida.
……and you eat the whole lemon slice?
The rind too Jessica? OK I’ll take a slice!! I love lemon, and I’m always squeezing it on top of things so I will love this pizza :) Def going to attempt this!
This is by far the most creative pizza I have ever seen! I love the idea of lemon on pizza and paring it with prosciutto and goat cheese, fantastic!!!! This is one to try for sure!!
This is SUCH a great idea Jess! I would have never thought of it myself and at first I was like “lemons? on pizza?” but now I’m all “I NEED lemons on my pizza!!!” You’ve also triggered a little thought in the back of my mind… salmon (which I happen to adore) goes well with lemon…. I wonder about a smoked salmon pizza with lemon slices on it too. Oh the possibilities!
NOW THAT is an amazing idea/riff for this pizza…good on you Angela!
Still friends. I never get tired of weird things on pizza. It’s one of my favorite ways to try new things or use up the randomness in the fridge. This is fuuuunnnnn!
Wow! This is one unique pizza and would definitely be worth a try. I’d definitely like to still be friends! :)
I absolutely love this pizza! I just saw some meyer lemons at the grocery store. Wish I had bought them. I’m heading back. Love all the veggies on here too. Would love for you to share on Thursdays Treasures. http://fooddonelight.com/. Link party will be open Wednesday at 8pm
I’m not running anywhere except closer to this pizza! YUM!
I totally agree about January blues. I get even worse in February when it feels like winter will never end. This pizza looks like just the ticket to brighten everything up. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for Meyer lemons.
Prettiest pizza I’ve ever seen! I adore the lemon slices on top, Meyer lemons are the best!
Im sold – I need to give it a try!
I have to say, the thought of putting lemons on pizza was bizarre to me at first, but after reading your description I’m tempted to try it. It seems like it actually might work.
Sounds and looks delicious!
I’ve NEVER heard of pizza with lemons, but we Italians sure do love lemon so… why not! Plus, meyer lemons smell heavenly.
We sing the same song…it’s nothing but doom and gloom up here in New England these days. Those lemons would be sure to brighten things up a bit :)
I think one of the worst things a person can do is limit themselves because something is different and out of the box. I will definitely give this a try because , well… I trust you :) Question: can regular lemons be subbed for this?
you could try, but they won’t work as well as the meyer lemons. meyer lemons are sweeter and the rind is much thinner. if your only option is to use regular lemons, I’d probably segment them, remove the rind and pith and try to use them that way? they still may be too tart though!
my mom has a meyer lemon tree at her house (indoors, of course) and I am totally hitting her up for one of those suckers to make this.
how do you have one indoors?! i need that!
YUM, prosciutto is delish and on pizza with lemon double yum!
I’m intrigued. And a little skeptical. But you’ve earned my trust in the pizza baking department, so I figure this has to be amazing.
SATC marathon <3. It's probably about time I start rewatcing the entire series from season 1. Because it's been a few months. And I've only seen it about 2,000 times. I want to make this pizza and park my butt in front of the TV with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.
This looks just crazy enough to be delicious.
Looks like we both have citrus on the brain! Super unique combination.
oh. em. gee. I’ve been dreaming of this pizza since the day we left Carmel!!!! YUMMMM!!!! Cannot wait to make it!
My first thought really was, “Ew, lemons on my pizza!” But now I’m intrigued and I want this for lunch. The rinds aren’t bitter though?
nope, meyer lemons are sweeter than regular lemons and the rind is much thinner.
Drroolllllll…small world!! cuz I used to be a pastry chef at The Corkscrew’s sister restaurants Casanova and La Bicyclette!! That pizza is amazing!!
Yes, January Mondays are the worst of the worst, but LEMONS on my pizza? I can’t even wait to try.
How in the world do you get your pizza dough that round? Mine always turns out wonky!
seriously, mine usually does too, even when I use a round sheet. this was a fluke. I swear.
Now you’re my BEST friend, haha. Love this pizza!
P.S. – I’ll be posting (facebook/twitter – no blog anymore) the dessert that you helped me pick out for my parents’ anniversary.
Yesssss! :)
I have no problem with lemon pizza! Looks delicious!
This pizza sounds very unsual but oh so delicious!
This is definitely the kind or recipe that I could get on board with and my boyfriend would need TONS of convincing.
WOW. making this. looks amazing!
I wasn’t sure if this would be savory or sweet when I read the title. I think this looks amazing. Great flavor combo!
You never seem to run out of interesting and creative ways to combine different flavors (lemons on pizza- what?!) but it always turns out looking AMAZING. I’m jealous of your delicious-filled life.
okay, so the hotdog sounded pretty darn tasty, but I would take a slice of this pizza any day over a hotdog! this looks delicious!
you’re hilarious.
Well I think this looks “fabulous,” especially as a flatbread appetizer. I’ve never eat the rind of a meyer lemon, even though I see that you supposedly can… I’m a bit skeptical but wanting to give it a try!
dis is gorgeous.
This is one very unique pizza…in a good way, though! I don’t think you can really go wrong if you tried :)
looks amazing to me! Although my husband would run screaming away from it!
I saw that hot dog on Instragram and just about tried to eat my damn phone. I am totally hitting up Five Guys this week.
And when I saw the title of this post I was a little worried but the first picture changed everything. this pizza looks fricking amazing.
I love pineapple & mango on pizza and have never tried lemon but want to now! I love this idea! And love that you made your own WW pizza crust with a touch of honey…mmm, I bet that’s so good with the lemon!
You had me at prosciutto and spinach. You lost me at lemon. Though, you’ve never let me down, so I suppose it’s worth a shot. Looks amazing, though!
My mouth is watering!
Lemons and Pizza? An unusual combination but you totally worked it! Thanks for sharing Jessica! Would love to try this! :)
I remember this pizza well. I, like you, did not order but REALLY wished I had once I tried someone else’s. ;)
We can definitely still be friends after this little beauty. In fact, i have two meyer lemons on my kitchen counter just begging to be used for this!
um, i actually really love this idea!!! A few months ago I had calamari that was served with fried Meyer lemon slices, and it was crazy good. I have an extra pizza dough sitting in my refrigerator right now… I’m definitely going to give this one a try! I already can’t wait to see the look on my husband’s face when I put this in front of him. HA.
I am dying to make that calamari now.
well, i actually had it at a cooking class at whole foods, so i do have the recipe!! emailing it to you now!!