Hey there people.. It's FRIDAY!!! and I gots another pizza here that will knock your socks off (I am back to wearing socks, are you?)
So the mr is trying to not eat quite as much cheese lately (he really likes to eat cheese). But he also can not live (happily) without eating pizza and I usually make his pizzas with cheese. So me being the best girl friend ever went out of my lovely way to make him a pizza without dairy cheese. And who said that pizza need real cheese? I bet there is somebody, but I don't care, and neither did the mr. He was all into this, no dairy cheese in sight. Plus bonus for me, I didn't have to grate cheese (worst activity ever!)
Anyway, let's talk about this pizza. The toppings alone are HELL YEAH! Arugula pesto , which is bitter, and spicy. Delicata squash that is smooth, sweet and creamy, and cashew cheese brings it all together with a cheesy, creamy, sweet, tanginess….. I mean, are you drooling yet? And let's just look at how pretty it is.. So pretty, which makes the whole thing that much better.
A pizza tha will make just about anyone happy, full of so much fantastic flavor and not covered in a bunch of grease and gross. One could eat the entire thing and really not feel so bad about it. It's kind of the perfect pizza.
So onwards! Go make pizza!
The stuff. A pizza dough (homemade or store bought.. whatever works for you). Some cashew cheese (slightly watered down so it pourable) and a delicata squash. For the pesto… arugula, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, olive oil and a little salt.
To make the pesto toss the arugaula, lemon juice, garlic,a pitch of salt, and the nutritional yeast into a food processor. Start the thing and slowly drizzle a little olive oil in as its going until it all comes together and looks all creamy pesto nice like.
Grab the squash and slice it up into 1/4 inch think pieces. Once it's sliced, the seeds come out really easily with a spoon or you fingers, so remove those but don't toss them! Roast them, either now or save for later
Roll , stretch, toss your dough and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet, or in a skillet however you like to bake you pizza) and start adding the toppings. Arugula pesto..delicata squash and lastly, cashew cheese spattered all over.
Looking good and ready for the hot oven.
And after some time… Crispy. golden brown crust. The Delicatia is nice and soft and the cashew cheese is starting to brown(just a bit)
Cut into slices and serves with extra arugula (if you want).
Have the best weekend. Go do something fall-ish. (I am going PUMPKIN PICKING!)
Happy Friday!
-C
Arugula Pesto-Delicata Squash-Cashew Cheese Pizza
- pizza dough for a 12 inch pizza * (use any dough, this recipe or store bought)
- 1 cup cashew cheese (recipe here), slightly thinned out with water to like melted ice cream consistency
- 1 delicata squash
For the pesto
- 3-4 large handfuls of arugula
- 4 cloves of garlic
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons nutrional yeast
- olive oil (1-2 tablespoons
- salt and pepper
*Note. Make sure to set you pizza dough out for at least 15-20 minutes to let it rest and come to room temperature
Preheat oven to 450
Roll out pizza dough to about a 12 inch circle or square (whatever shape you want) and place in or on a lightly oiled baking sheet or skillet (or whatever you like to bake you pizzas on) Drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil and set aside.
Take arugula, garlic, nutritional yeat and lemon juice and stick into a food processor. Turn on and blend, drizzling in a little olive oil until all the stuff comes together and is all pesto like. Season with salt. Now take your squash and slice it into 1/4 ish rounds. Remove the seeds (scrap out with a spoon or just push them out of the whole with your fingers)
Grab the dough, smear on a good amount of pesto (you don't need to use it all) layer the delicata rounds on top of that, and then drip, splatter,our pour the cashew cheese on top of that.
Stick into hot oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until crust and cashew cheese is golden brown.
Remove from oven, let cool for a minute, cut into slices and serve with extra fresh arugula and a bit more nutritional yeast.
Eat and eat.