Whether you need an easy snack for wine night with friends or a family-friendly Friday night dinner, these flatbreads are the answer. Loaded with caramelized mushrooms and plenty of mozzarella, they're a crowd-pleaser for all ages, no matter the mood or night.
Rather than simply sautéing the cremini mushrooms here, you'll sear them on one side first until they develop a deep, golden-brown crust. This technique draws out the savory, umami-rich flavor of the mushrooms, which really makes these flatbreads stand out. Add lots of melty mozzarella and garlic, thyme, and Parmesan, and you've got a new winning dinner on your hands.
To create a crisp crust, I borrowed a technique from Associate Food Editor Meghan: Bake the flatbreads on an inverted rimmed baking sheet, which creates an air pocket under the pan for a convection-like effect that allows the crust to better brown and crisp. Plus, when the baking sheet is inverted, you have a bit more space to stretch the dough out.
Caramelized Mushroom Flatbread Pizza
Makes 2 (10-inch) pizzas
Serves 4 to 6
Prep time: 20 minutes to 30 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes to 45 minutes
1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature at least 1 hour
1 pound cremini mushrooms
4 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
All-purpose flour, for dusting
Finely ground cornmeal, for dusting
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, divided
If using refrigerated pizza dough, make sure it sits out at room temperature for about an hour before beginning. Arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven. Place a heavy, rimmed baking sheet upside down on the rack, and heat the oven to 450°F. Meanwhile, cut the mushrooms into 1/4-inch thick slices. Mince the 4 garlic cloves. Strip the leaves from the thyme sprigs until you have 2 teaspoons, then add to the garlic. Shred the mozzarella cheese until you get 1 cup.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add half the mushrooms in a single layer and cook undisturbed until browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper and cook, stirring once or twice, until the mushrooms are browned all over and tender, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a medium bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and repeat with the remaining mushrooms, salt, and pepper. About a minute before the mushrooms are ready, add the garlic and thyme and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to the bowl of mushrooms and stir to combine. Set aside to cool while you prepare the dough.
Divide the pizza dough into 2 pieces. If the dough is sticky, dust with a little bit of all-purpose flour. Sprinkle a 12-inch piece of parchment paper with cornmeal and place one of the pieces of dough on it. Use the heel of your hand to press the dough flat. Using your hands or a rolling pin, work from the middle out to shape the dough into a 10-inch round. The dough will stick to the parchment; if it starts to shrink back, wait a few minutes to let it relax and continue shaping.
Brush the dough with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then scatter half of the mushroom mixture onto the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese. Carefully remove the preheated baking sheet from the oven and use the parchment paper to slide the flatbread directly onto the back of the baking sheet.
Bake until the edges are golden-brown and crisp and the cheese is melted,10 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, grate enough Parmesan cheese until you have 2 tablespoons. Chop until you have 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully transfer the flatbread to a clean cutting board. Save the parchment paper to make a second flatbread and return the baking sheet to the oven. Top the baked flatbread with half of the Parmesan and half of the parsley. Cool for 2 minutes, then slice and serve. Repeat with the remaining dough, olive oil, and toppings.
RECIPE NOTES
Make-ahead: The mushrooms can be cooked and refrigerated up to 2 days ahead.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This article is written by Sheela Prakash from The Kitchn and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.