Buffalo Mozzarella & Fresh Porcini Pizza

INGREDIENTS:

•3 thin pizza crusts 12” each (pre-made)
• 1 1/4 pounds fresh porcini or baby bella mushrooms,sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 9 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 5 – 8 ounce balls water-packed buffalo mozzarella cheese or fresh mozzarella cheese, drained, cut into 1/4 inch thick rounds
• 4 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• fresh basil leaves (for garnish)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450 °F. Sprinkle 3 large rimless baking sheets with flour. Place 1 pizza crust on each prepared sheet (can be a pizza or baking stone).  Place porcini in bowl; sprinkle with 3 tablespoons oil, salt, and pepper; toss. Arrange 1/3 of cheese and 1/3 porcini on each pizza crust. Drizzle each with 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with thyme.

Bake pizzas until crusts are brown at edges and crisp on bottom, about 20 minutes. Transfer pizzas to work surface. Cut pizzas into wedges and serve. Yields three 12 inch pizzas.   Recipe adapted from Bon Appètit, October 2005.

Riva Leone
Barbera DOCG
Piedmont, Italy

“The Barbera grape, once ubiquitous as a carafe wine in Milan’s cafes, has grown into one of the stars of the modern Italian wine scene.  Powerfully fruity, with rich cherry and raspberry notes, it finishes with a tangy, lip-smacking edge along with some herbs and mint. Really fun wine.” – Doug Frost, Master Sommelier and Master of Wine.

Winemaker: Giovanni Alessandria
Appellation: Piedmont, Italy
Varietal Blend:  100% Barbera
Analysis: 13.5% alc/vol