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Food & Wine Recipe

Pizza with Asparagus and Smoked Ham

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  • SERVINGS: 4
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This recipe was inspired by Grace Parisi's mother, Fran, who tops her special Easter pizza rustica with lots of ham and cheese. Some hams and cheeses are saltier than others, so be sure to taste them before seasoning the asparagus.

  1. 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 1 pound medium asparagus—peeled, trimmed to 5-inch lengths and halved lengthwise
  3. 1/2 pound smoked ham, sliced 1/4 inch thick and cut into 2-inch-long matchsticks
  4. 3 small scallions, sliced
  5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  6. 1/4 pound mild provolone or Fontina cheese, shredded (1 cup)
  7. 1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature
  8. 2 tablespoons freshly grated Asiago, Parmesan or sharp provolone cheese
  1. Preheat the oven to 500°. Preheat a pizza stone or generously oil a large baking sheet. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the asparagus and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Add the ham and scallions to the asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Let cool slightly. Add half of the shredded cheese.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll or stretch the dough to a rough 14-inch round. Transfer the dough to a floured pizza peel or rimless cookie sheet, or to the oiled baking sheet. Top the pizza with the asparagus mixture, leaving a 1-inch border of dough. Brush the border with the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Scatter the grated cheese and the remaining shredded cheese over the top.
  3. Slide the pizza onto the hot stone, if using, and bake for about 10 minutes on the stone or 16 minutes on the baking sheet, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Transfer the pizza to a rack and let cool slightly before serving.

Suggested Pairing

A clean, light white from Spain or France is a refreshing choice.