Pizza with Smoked Salmon and Caviar
One of my favorite lazy meals to throw together is a semi-homemade pizza utilizing Trader Joe’s pre-made dough (I know, cheating! But on a busy day, it’s great in a pinch!). Featured in his cookbook Wolfgang Puck's Pizza, Pasta and More!, Wolfgang Puck’s iconic pizza with smoked salmon and caviar was made famous when he opened Spago in the 1980’s. The pizza – perfect when paired with a glass of champagne! – can still be ordered off-menu at the restaurant to this day. Rolled into a heart-shape, this strikes me as a perfect, decadent Valentine’s dish!
Dill Cream
1½ cups sour cream
3 Tbsp minced shallots
2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill leaves
1½ Tbsp fresh lemon juice
¼ Tsp freshly ground white pepper
In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate, covered, and use as needed. This should keep well for up to 1 week.
Chili Oil
1 c peanut or extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup red pepper flakes
In a small saucepan, heat the oil to a simmer. Stir in the red pepper flakes and remove the pan from the heat. Cool. Store in a covered jar and refrigerate until needed. Chili oil will keep, refrigerated, for 3 to 4 weeks.
Pizza with Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche and Caviar
6 oz pizza dough
1 tablespoon Chili and Garlic Oil
¼ teaspoon thinly sliced red onion
2 Tbsp Dill Cream
2½ oz thinly sliced smoked salmon
1 tsp chopped fresh chives
1 Tbsp Sevruga caviar, optional
Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F.
On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out the dough into an 8- inch circle, with the outer edge a little thicker than the inner circle. Brush the dough with the oil and arrange the onions over the pizza. Slide a pizza paddle or rimless baking sheet under the pizza and then slide the pizza onto the pizza stone. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.
Carefully remove the pizza from the oven and set it on a cutting board. Spread the Dill Cream over the inner circle and arrange the slices of salmon so that they cover the entire pizza, slightly overlapping the raised rim. Sprinkle the chopped chives over the salmon. Using a pizza cutter or a large sharp knife, cut the pizza into 4 or 6 slices. If you like, spoon a little caviar in the center of each slice. Serve immediately.
Dress: Pinup Couture Nancy Dress in Mary Blair Butterflies Print in Peach
Lips: Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in American Doll
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW® Pomade in Soft Brown
