Manchego Pizza with Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes

“I’m begging you not to click off on this recipe until you hear me out!  I know! I know the title of this recipe sounds crazy complicated.  But please trust me, when I tell you it is as simple as making a PB & J sandwich.  Maybe that’s a bit of stretch. However, I truly concocted this recipe in about 5 minutes without an ounce of thought or plan. It surfaced because my older one had a play date where I had promised we would make pizzas for dinner and I needed to prepare for the entire family as well.  Hence, after scurrying the fridge, I was thrilled to find some Manchego cheese, heirloom tomatoes, and store-bought pesto sauce; our supper was set!  Oh boy, you are going to be thrilled with how impressive looking it is.  Perfect for your next summer get-together as an appetizer cut into bite-sized pieces!”

Ingredients

• 1 lb. pizza dough (frozen & thawed OR ask to buy some at your local pizzeria which is what I do)
• 1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce
• 1 cup small cubes Manchego cheese (If you happen to like truffles; use Manchego cheese with them added to it.  It’s divine!)
• 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• Flour for the pan
• 2 cups bite-sized heirloom tomatoes (cherry or grape tomatoes are ok as well)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil + more for dough
• Kosher salt
• Ground pepper

Directions

1.)  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.)  Toss the tomatoes with olive oil, salt & ground pepper.

3.)  Lay them evenly on a small greased baking sheet and roast for 10-12 minutes. Set aside.

4.)  Flour a clean kitchen surface and cut slice dough into four pieces.  Roll each dough ball out flat into a 1/4 inch thickness.

5.)  Transfer dough to a sprayed baking sheet and brush each piece with olive oil to coat.

6.)  Spread the pesto sauce on each pizza and arrange roasted tomatoes and Manchego cubes throughout.

7.)  Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top and place in the oven.

8.)  Bake pizza for 10-12 minutes and then remove and place them directly on oven rack and continue to cook for 3 more minutes OR until the outer-crust is browning.

9.)  Remove from oven and let them cool.  Season the pizza with additional salt and pepper as needed.