Spinach and Shaved Asparagus Pizza
// June 14th, 2010 // environment, food
I’ve been eating a bit less meat lately. (Aside from typical concerns expressed by vegetarians, I see this as another way for me to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle). Following a visit to the local farmers’ market, I whipped together this pizza. It should be noted that I’m by no means a chef. I am, however, having better luck with each attempt, saving money by not going to a fast food restaurant. Enjoy….
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
1 pizza dough – I found honey wheat to be a nice flavor
~6 stalks of asparagus
Several leaves of spinach
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 pound shredded mozzarella
2 teaspoons olive oil
Some black pepper
Preheat your oven to its hottest temperature; probably 500.
Cut the asparagus horizontally. You can use the ends as handles. Don’t cut your fingers, especially if you play an instrument. The idea is to create long shavings of asparagus. The pieces can be different sizes and you can alter the amount of asparagus to your liking. This will provide a nice mix of textures. Toss the peelings with olive oil, pepper and maybe some other spices (e.g. garlic) if your wife isn’t looking. Be sure to try some of the asparagus raw.
If you want, put a small amount of olive oil on the pizza dough. Sprinkle Parmesan, then mozzarella over the pizza dough. Shred the spinach into small pieces and throw this and the asparagus onto the pizza. Throw any remaining mozzarella on top. Bake the pizza until the edges are browned (around 10 minutes). Turn your oven off asap; eat!
