Pulled Pork BBQ Pizza With Potatoes and Caramelized Onions Recipe

Ingredients

Dough Preparation

• 0.5 pound pizza dough
• flour for dusting
• cornmeal for dusting

Caramelized Onions

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 sweet onion, sliced
• salt, pepper and sugar to taste

Pizza Toppings

• 0.25 cup BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)
• 1.75 cups smoked cheese, freshly grated (cheddar, mozzarella, Gouda or Gruyere)
• 0.25 cup pulled pork
• potato slices (1/8-inch thick)
• 1 egg yolk
• 0.5 tablespoon water
• fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Dough

1. If using dough stored in the refrigerator, place on a lightly floured surface, gently press into a 5-inch flat circle and cover with plastic wrap about two to three hours before you plan to bake the pizza. If you made your dough right away and it's already risen and come to room temperature, you're ready to skip to the next step.
2. About 45 minutes to an hour before baking, place a pizza stone in the cold oven and turn the heat to 500 degrees. If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a large baking sheet and preheat for 30 minutes, though a pizza stone is recommended for best results.

Caramelize the Onions

1. While the pizza stone heats, melt butter in a large skillet. Add onion slices with a pinch of salt, pepper and sugar and stir to coat the onion slices in butter.
2. Cook until the onion slices caramelize and turn brown, stirring only occasionally during the process. Set aside once browned.

Shape the Dough

1. Hand stretch the dough using the bed of your fingers rather than your fingertips to pat the dough outward toward the edge. Don't pat in the center of the dough, or you'll get limp pizza. Focus on staying outside of the center and work toward the edge.
2. After you work the dough, grab the edge of the pizza and lift it in the air. Allow it to quickly hang down and keep rotating the pizza crust through your fingers like you're turning a steering wheel. Do not use a rolling pin to shape and flatten.
3. The dough is stretched when it's 10 inches in diameter. If any holes form, pinch the dough back together.
4. Coat a pizza peel or the back of a parchment paper-covered baking sheet with cornmeal and place the hand-stretched dough on top. Adjust the shape if necessary.

Assemble and Bake

1. Spread 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce on the dough, leaving an edge for the crust. Top with cheese, 1/4 cup of caramelized onions, pulled pork and potato slices.
2. Whisk together the egg yolk and water and brush on the crust.
3. Transfer to the hot pizza stone. If using parchment paper on a baking sheet to transfer the pizza, bring the baking sheet to the edge of the pizza stone, grab the edge of the parchment paper and slide the pizza from the baking sheet to the pizza stone.
4. Bake for two minutes, remove the parchment paper and then continue to bake for six to eight minutes. If using a pizza peel with no parchment paper to transfer the pizza directly to the stone, bake for eight to 10 minutes.
5. Remove from oven. Let the pizza set for about five minutes, cut into slices and top with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

• Use smoked varieties of cheese like smoked cheddar, Gouda, or Gruyere for the best flavor.
• A pizza stone will give you the best results, but a large baking sheet works as a substitute.
• The caramelized onions can be made in advance and reheated before assembling the pizza.