Butternut Squash Kale Pizza

Image from The Kitchn

Now that it is fall, we’ll be seeing the last of heirloom tomatoes. But don’t despair! Get your pizza fix with fresh autumn produce instead. While the ingredients for this pizza require some preparation, you can make this time effective by cooking double (or triple!) batches of the kale, squash, and bacon and using them for other meals throughout the week. The roasted butternut squash and kale are perfect to toss into a pasta dish or use as a side. And bacon never goes to waste.

Instructions

Butternut Squash– heat the oven to 450°F. Peel and dice squash into small 1/2-inch cubes. Toss the cubes with salt and a good drizzle of olive oil. Spread squash on a baking sheet in a single layer so the cubes aren’t too crowded. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until soft.

Bacon– Dice the bacon and fry over medium-high heat until cooked through but not totally crispy. The bacon will cook a little more in the oven. Drain on a paper towel.

Kale– Wash the kale and get it as dry as possible with a salad spinner or a clean kitchen towel. Strip the leaves from the stems and tear into small 1/2-inch pieces. Toss the kale with a little olive oil. (If washing kale for later preparations, do not toss all of it with olive oil, just the kale that will go on the pizza.)

Slice mozzarella into thin rounds.

If using a range- heat the oven to 500°F or as hot as it will go. If you have a baking stone, place this in the lower half of the oven while the oven warms.

Assembling and baking the pizzas- divide the dough into two halves and shape each into 10-inch rounds. Need tips on working with dough? Working one round at a time, brush with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Lay half the rounds of mozzarella on the pizza and arrange 1/2 cup of the roasted squash and half the bacon across the dough. Scatter half of the kale over top.

Transfer the pizza to the oven. Bake for 7-10 minutes, until the kale is crispy and the crust is dark golden. Assemble and bake the second pizza as the first. Let the pizzas cool slightly before slicing and serving.