Goat Cheese and Spinach Alfredo Pizza

Oh the wonders of cheese.  Cheddar, parmesan, mozzarella, swiss, cream cheese, gouda, muenster... I love 'em all!  This pizza has FOUR types of cheese, each playing an important role.  The parmesan and cream cheese make the alfredo sauce super creamy.  The goat cheese adds that incomparably awesome salty bite and the mozzarella binds all of it together, both texture and flavor-wise.  Plus, the alfredo sauce recipe makes for a lighter version than the typical alfredo, so I think this pizza is a great transition between all those calorie-laden meals we had during the holidays and all the healthy foods we'll be eating from now on... 

Ok, this exquisite pizza doesn't need much justification, so that ridiculous argument works fine! :D  On to the recipe!

You could buy a jar of alfredo sauce.  I recommend Bertolli (there's even a lighter version) if you want to go that route.  But why not make it yourself?  Afterwards, you can say you know how to make alfredo sauce and feel cool.  So the first step in being cool is melting the butter over medium-low heat.  Once hot, add garlic and move it around with a wire whisk (or a fork) for 1-2 minutes.  Whisk in flour and stir it for a minute.  Then, whisk (we'll be doing alot of whisking) in milk, until there are no lumps.  When the milk is hot, stir in cream cheese until smooth.  Finally, remove from heat and stir in parmesan, salt and pepper.  The sauce will be gooey and thick, which is appropriate for the pizza 'cuz it won't be all runny and annoying.  ;) 

Next, flatten two pre-made balls of pizza dough (I used store-bought) in two pizza pans and spread the sauce evenly on both of them.  On each, sprinkle the minced onions and chopped spinach.  Then, crumble the soft goat cheese on them with your fingers.  Your fingers will be messy (fun!).  Finally, sprinkle the mozzarella. 

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese and crust starts to become golden and the cheese bubbles.  Rotate pans in the oven to ensure even baking. If you bought frozen pizza crust follow the instructions that it brings, or if you're making pizza dough from scratch follow that recipe. I like sitting in front of the oven during the final minutes and watch it as if it was TV.  Weird? Heck yea! :)

Goat Cheese and Spinach Alfredo Pizza

Alfredo sauce adapted from: The Comfort of Cooking 
Shout out to my friend Lauren Badía for coming up with the idea for this pizza!

Ingredients:

Alfredo Sauce:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk (I used 2%, but it can also be fat free)
• 2 tbsp 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• 2 cups parmesan (grated or shredded)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Pizza:

• 2 lbs pizza dough (I used store-bought)
• 1/4 cup onion, minced (yellow or white)
• 1/2 cup fresh spinach, chopped
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 8 oz mozzarella. shredded

Directions: 

1. Pre-heat oven to 400.
2. Alfredo Sauce: Melt butter over medium-low heat.  Once hot, add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.  Whisk in flour and stir for 1 minute until well combined.
3. Whisk in milk until mixture has no lumps.  Once hot, stir in cream cheese until smooth. Remove from heat.
4. Stir in parmesan, salt and pepper until the sauce is gooey and thick.  
5. Pizza: Flatten each ball of pizza on a pizza pan.  Spread sauce evenly on pizza dough.  Sprinkle onions and spinach evenly over sauce.  
6. Use your fingers to crumble the goat cheese evenly over the pizzas (2 oz for each pizza).  Sprinkle the mozzarella. 
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese and crust start to become golden and cheese bubbles.  Rotate pans in the oven half-way through to get even baking.  

Linked to: What's Cooking Wednesday and Marvelous Mondays