beet pesto pizza with goat cheese and basil
If you are all experiencing a heat wave like we are, give your local farmers a break if they seem a little bit cranky. I for one, am not a happy camper. Farming in a heat wave sucks.
The good news is that I cooked up the perfect remedy for extreme heat and crankiness. Beets to the rescue!
We planted extra beets this year because of my absolute obsession with them. We bring plenty to market with us, but I always want to make sure there is an unlimited supply for me as well (I’m selfish that way!)
This beet pesto pizza with goat cheese and basil is pretty darn delicious. I made a different version of beet pesto last year. I switched things up a bit this time and the result was just as delicious as my old recipe. We ate this pizza under a huge tree for some shade and a cool breeze. It was the perfect way to end a particularly hot day. Enjoy.
Beet Pesto Pizza with Goat Cheese and Basil
Prep Time: 10 mins. Cook Time: 30 mins. Serves: 2-4
- 1 ball of pizza dough
- 1/4-1/2 cup good quality goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 small bunch of fresh basil, finely chopped
- olive oil for drizzling
- 3 large purple beets, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 TBS fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- pinch of salt and pepper
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Place beets in a large pot of boiling water. Cook until beets are fork tender (about 10 minutes) Strain beets and set aside until cool enough to handle.
- Combine all ingredients for the pesto in a food processor. Process until smooth. Taste test and set aside.
- Roll out your pizza dough. Spread a thin layer of beet pesto over the dough. Add crumbled goat cheese, salt and pepper.
- Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes of until dough lightly browned and cheese is melted. Remove from oven and sprinkle chopped basil on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary.
You sold me on beets a long time ago, but my boyfriend has still needed convincing. I think this pizza might be the trick to push him over the edge 🙂
You’re making me want to cry with that beet pesto! Goat cheese and beets are always a great combo and I’m thinking this pizza is a perfect rememdy for any bad day. I’ll definitely be gentle with the farmers at our local market – I know you folks wake up at the butt crack of dawn and battling the heat it the pitts!
An unlimited supply of beets sounds pretty ideal! I’ve made your beet pesto & kale pizza a few times now, and will definitely be trying out this version!
Like others, you definitely turned me into a beet lover! Purple, golden… I love them all now. And I even got my 64 year old mother to like roasted beets too for the first time in her life! Beets AND pizza?! Yum! Thanks Andrea!!
Just found your log and loving it! I love my sick beets and tried this pizza out, wonderful! I sautéed the beet greens in some olive oil and chilli flakes and used it as the topping with the goat cheese. My 3 year old nephew had 4 slices, my bro-in-law who doesn’t love beets or goat cheese loved it (slightly backtracked his complimentary enthusiasm when he realized it was goat cheese though)
Thanks! Can’t wait to try the beet and coconut soup recipe
Oh. My. Goodness. This pesto is heavenly. I plan on smothering this on EVERYTHING. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I’m so happy you love this beet pesto as well! it’s my favorite!
made this last night and loved it. my husband said i should have made 3 of these pizzas instead of 1. my very picky 2.5 year old twins were gobbling it up too. who knew they liked beet pesto??
Im so glad you tried this! It’s a keeper in our household!
Wow, this looks wonderful! Can’t wait to try it.
It’s a keeper! Let me know how you like it 🙂
Made this last night! It elevates beets to a whole new level! Had no walnuts, used toasted pine nuts. Had a bumper crop of basil – used some in the pesto, but not enough to change the brilliant colour. No time for dough, so used Greek style pita. It was the best! And so quick! Saved the beets greens for my juicer this morning. Thanks!
Wow, what a great idea to make pizza with beets! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Yum, had this pizza tonight! I make a very similar beet and walnut sauce (with a Middle-Eastern spin) but hadn’t thought to put it on pizza. Loved it!.
I just discovered your blog. I love it! I made the fennel and best salad. Yum. The pizza recipes look great. Do you have a recipe for the dough to share?
AMAZING! The beet pesto is delicious – unlike anything I have ever tasted. One of my favorite recipes to date.
This recipe took about 1 hour from start to finish (not 30 minutes). My beets were pretty big, so they took about 30 minutes to boil, which slowed down the whole process. But, the time is worth the wait 🙂
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe!!! I was wondering have you ever canned the beet pesto before?