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    Home » Recipes » Pizza

    Traditional Italian White Pizza With Pesto

    Published: Feb 2, 2018 · Modified: Mar 27, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Recipe
    White pizza is a pizza without tomato sauce, my favourite originates just around the corner in the Italian Riviera: Pizza with Stracchino and Pesto #yourguardianchef #pizzarecipes #pizza #italianrecipes

    The traditional white pizza, in Italian pizza Bianca, is a pizza without tomato sauce. My favourite originates just around the corner in the Italian Riviera: Pizza with Stracchino and Pesto.

    Traditional Italian White Pizza With Stracchino and Pesto
    Jump to:
    • What is a white pizza
    • What is Stracchino
    • Making the pizza dough
    • Make the pesto
    • Pizza recipes you might also like
    • 📋Traditional Italian White Pizza With Pesto

    What is a white pizza

    A pizza is called white when there is no tomato sauce. There are many types of white pizza, usually topped with ingredients whose taste would be overpowered by the tomato sauce.

    I like white pizza, as generally, it is a vegetable celebration, and there are so many varieties of vegetables that are perfect just with cheese.

    So I created a list of different pizza toppings made with Mediterranean vegetables combined with regional cheeses.

    Pizza with pesto and stracchino is my first pizza, but you can also find Pizza with Artichokes, Pizza with Mushrooms and Pizza with Fresh Tomatoes.

    What is Stracchino

    Stracchino is one of my favourite cheeses, it is creamy, smooth and with a fresh taste. I can easily eat a kilo at once.

    Stracchino is a cheese made of cow milk originated from Lombardia region. However I had my first Pizza with Stracchino at a Pizzeria in Genova, and it was a fantastic discovery. I don't even remember if it was served with Genovese Pesto, but this combination is perfect for me.

    Stracchino is also called Crescenza, which is the same cheese but seasoned only for 20 to 60 days. Wherever you are in the world, you might find it in an Italian food speciality store. If you cannot find it, you can also use burrata or Mozzarella di Bufala.

    Stracchino o crescenza

    Making the pizza dough

    To make pizza dough I use this traditional Italian Pizza dough recipe and I find it very practical to make it in the bread machine.

    If you don’t have the bread machine, you can find the recipe: How to make the Pizza dough without a bread machine.

    To make the pizza dough in the bread machine:

    1. Pour the ingredients into the machine and set the program for fresh dough, number 13 on the Kenwood. NB: when using the bread machine the ingredients should be placed in the exact order as listed above, liquids first.
    2. For best result, let the dough rest in the fridge overnight, well-floured and wrapped in a plastic bag, otherwise, it will crawl all over the fridge.
    Bread machine pizza dough

    Make the pesto

    For more information on how to make basil pesto you can read the recipe Genovese Pesto sauce

    1. Add all the ingredients for the pesto in a blender. 
    2. he pesto should be mixed gradually with pulsing movements. If mixed continuously the heat created by the blades will oxidize the basil turning the pesto into a dark colour.
    Making the pesto

    Prepare the white pizza

    1. Once the dough is ready, cut it into 4 equal sizes and lay them down on a well-floured baking sheet.
    2. When the dough is rolled flat, it needs to rest for at least 10 minutes before it rises. In the meantime, put the pizza stone in the cold oven and set the oven at 430 F - 220 C.
    3. Once the oven reaches the temperature of 430 F -220C, take the pizza stone out of the oven and lay the dough on top.
    4. Top it with the stracchino cheese
    5. Drizzle with the pesto
    6. Cook it in the hot oven for 10 minutes 
    Making the pizza

    Enjoy you white pizza with stracchino and pesto

    Traditional Italian White Pizza With Stracchino and Pesto

    Pizza recipes you might also like

    For more pizza recipes, check out the category: Pizza

    Also check the recipes below:

    • Fried Pizza
    • Artichoke Pizza with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Scamorza Cheese
    • Pizza with Fresh Vegetables
    • Pissaladiere Nicoise
    • Focaccia Pizza
    • Pizza with Nutella

    If you are making this traditional Italian white pizza with pesto leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

    Traditional Italian White Pizza With Stracchino and Pesto

    📋Traditional Italian White Pizza With Pesto

    5 from 6 votes
    Laura Tobin
    Servings 3 people
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe
    White pizza is a pizza without tomato sauce, my favourite originates just around the corner in the Italian Riviera: Pizza with Stracchino and Pesto #yourguardianchef #pizzarecipes #pizza #italianrecipes
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    Equipment

    • Bread machine
    • Mini Measuring Set
    • Measuring mugs
    • Silicone Pastry Mat
    • Rolling pin
    • Pizza stone
    • Pizza soap stone
    • Braun blender

    Ingredients
     

    Pizza Dough

    • 3 cup Caputo flour 00 if you can find Manitoba, Type 55, All purpose, Plain, Type 0
    • 1 cup fresh water
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 package yeast 2 tsp
    • 0.5 teaspoon caster sugar to activate the yeast

    For the topping

    • 1 cup stracchino

    For the pesto

    • 2 cup fresh basil leaves
    • 3 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan
    • 1 tablespoon pecorino cheese
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ tablespoon pine nuts
    • 1 pinch salt

    Instructions
     

    Make the pizza dough

    • Pour the ingredients into the machine and set the program for fresh dough, number 13 on the Kenwood. NB: when using the bread machine the ingredients should be placed in the exact order as listed above, liquids first.
    • For best result, let the dough rest in the fridge overnight, well floured and wrapped in a plastic bag, otherwise, it will crawl all over the fridge.

    Make the pesto

    • Add all the ingredients for the pesto in a blender. 
    • The pesto should be mixed gradually with pulsing movements. If mixed continuously the heat created by the blades will oxidize the basil turning the pesto into a dark colour.

    Prepare the pizza

    • Once the dough is ready, cut it into 4 equal sizes and lay them down on a well-floured baking sheet.
    • When the dough is rolled flat, it needs to rest for at least 10 minutes before it rises. In the meantime, put the pizza stone in the cold oven and set the oven at 430 F - 220 C.
    • Once the oven reaches the temperature of 430 F -220C, take the pizza stone out of the oven and lay the dough on top.
    • Top it with the stracchino cheese
    • Drizzle with the pesto
    • Cook it in the hot oven for 10 minutes 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 921kcalCarbohydrates: 100gProtein: 21gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 1139mgPotassium: 307mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1900IUVitamin C: 2.9mgCalcium: 198mgIron: 6.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!
    important notes on ingredients

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

      February 02, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      I love white pizza!! Any kind will do for me! Laura, your pesto pizza looks divine! I have GOT to get a bread machine so I can make your pizza easily! Another great recipe!

      Reply
      • Laura

        February 02, 2018 at 1:52 pm

        Thank you Elaine, you should really come and visit. We can have a pizza party

        Reply
    2. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      February 02, 2018 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      I have never had a white pizza Laura so I have to make this as my family love pizza! The cheese looks amazing!

      Reply
      • Laura

        February 03, 2018 at 6:27 am

        Really? You should try it Amanda. I am sure you will all love it. More ideas coming up soon

        Reply
    3. Catherine Brown

      February 02, 2018 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      I adore white pizza! and with pesto, even more so! This really looks fantastic!

      Reply
      • Laura

        February 03, 2018 at 6:26 am

        Thank you, white pizza are my favourite too

        Reply
    4. Elizabeth | The Recipe Revival

      February 02, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      This pizza looks ultra cheesy and so yummy! That pesto is such a beautiful color!

      Reply
      • Laura

        February 03, 2018 at 6:26 am

        Thank you

        Reply
    5. Beth

      February 03, 2018 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      This pizza looks so delicious! I love white pizzas! I haven't had stracchino cheese! I have to find some because I know that you know your cheeses!

      Reply
      • Laura

        February 03, 2018 at 7:43 pm

        Oh yes, I know my cheese

        Reply
    5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Laura Giunta Tobin

    Hi, I’m Laura. Welcome to my blog! While many talk about Italian food, I’ve lived it firsthand. Here, I share real Italian home cooking, just as it’s made in Italy. Won’t you join me?

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