Why venture out to a restaurant when you can recreate pizza perfection in the comfort of your own kitchen while sipping on a glass of your favourite Spier wine? Topped with basil, pancetta and roasted tomatoes, this authentic Italian-inspired meal celebrates the spirit of winter and is on point when paired with a bottle of Spier Signature Merlot!
Pizza with roasted tomatoes, pancetta and basil
For the roasted tomatoes:
400g small tomatoes
15ml olive oil, for drizzling
5ml sugar
Salt and pepper
For the pizza dough: (serves 4)
2 cups (300g) white bread flour or cake flour
10ml (2 teaspoons) instant yeast
5ml (1 teaspoon) sugar
2,5ml (1/2 teaspoon) salt
180ml (3/4 cup) lukewarm water
15ml olive oil
For the pizza base sauce: (enough for 4)
30ml (2 tablespoons) olive oil
1 garlic clove, finely grated
1 x 400g canned whole tomatoes, pureed to a pulp
5ml (1 teaspoon) sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
For assembly:
1 x batch pizza dough (see above)
1 x batch pizza base sauce (see above)
400-500g fior di latte or bocconcini (soft fresh mozzarella) sliced/torn into smaller pieces
200g pancetta (or thinly sliced smoked bacon/ham)
A handful of fresh basil leaves, for topping
Method:
Note: The base sauce and roasted tomatoes can be made in advance and placed in a refrigerator until ready to use.
Enjoy with Spier Signature Merlot. Spier Signature wines capture in a glass what Spier does best, making quality wines that are true to each grape variety’s unique flavour. The Signature Merlot has sappy fruit and soft tannins, with ripe red and black berries, plums and an undertow of eucalyptus and mint. About 20% of the wine was matured in French oak barrels for 8-10 months. The remainder matured in stainless steel tanks with French oak staves.
The Spier Signature Merlot retails for R69.00 a bottle and is available at leading liquor outlets nationwide.