Prosciutto, Fig and Caramelized Onion Pizza

Prosciutto, Fig and Caramelized Onion Pizza is an exotic combination that will delight your taste buds!

Home made thin crust with crispy edges and a delightfully chewy texture is one of the best things about Prosciutto, Fig and Caramelized Onion Pizza. But we’re just getting started, so let’s pile on the toppings! Shredded provolone provides a rich, cheesy base to complement the yin and yang of flavors that come next. Savory caramelized onions sauteed with fresh thyme are then scattered over the provolone. Now for the sweet and salty piece de resistance – dabs of fig jam, crisped prosciutto pieces and crumbled Gorgonzola. The combination is heavenly!

Prosciutto, Fig and Caramelized Onion Pizza – Gourmet Pizza Extravaganza!

This pizza was the appetizer I created for our latest Gourmet Group adventure – all things pizza! Brian and Lynda came up with this fun idea to have a three course meal featuring a different kind of pizza for each course. It turned out to be a delightfully casual affair with a wide range of flavor combinations. Here’s what we served up for our feast:

These additional recipes from our menu will be published soon!

Pizza Components

Pizza Crust

I can’t brag enough about this amazing home made thin crust. Truth be told, I was intimidated by the idea of using yeast to make my own pizza crust. But it WAS gourmet group after all, so why not learn something new? I am so glad I did because IT”S SO EASY! You do have to plan ahead to let the dough raise for 45 minutes.

I did take the suggestion to make the dough a few days in advance. This allows for further fermentation and creates a slightly nutty flavor. While not required, I decided to give this extra step a try. Since I was learning how to make home made dough, why not go all the way. I even tracked down the special pizza flour (referenced in the link below) which I found at a local Italian market.

You can hit the easy button of course and purchase pizza dough (found refrigerated or frozen depending on your store) or opt for a ready made pizza crust. But I challenge you to give this home made pizza dough a try. It was totally worth the effort! Here’s the link for making the Thin Crust Pizza Dough.

Caramelized Onions

These take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to cook, but can be made in advance. If you go this route, warm the onions up to room temperature by placing them on the counter for about an hour or heat gently in the microwave on low. I added 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme after sauteing the onions for 30 minutes. This optional step adds another layer of savory depth. Here’s the link for making the Caramelized Onions.

Fig Jam

I used Divini Fig Spread which I found at Hy-Vee (Midwestern U.S. grocery store chain.) Spreading the jam onto the pizza crust had been my initial idea but my hubby Mike suggested dabbing it on instead. I loved how this resulted in hints of fruity sweetness which mingled perfectly with the salty prosciutto and Gorgonzola cheese.

Crisped Prosciutto

Cooking the prosciutto slices for a few minutes per side in a dry pan creates a crisped, more appealing texture. It also allows you to blot the grease from the prosciutto before tearing it up and adding it to the pizza.

Gorgonzola

I prefer Gorgonzola over other blue cheeses because it’s not quite as odoriferous and crumbles easily. You can get creative and try goat cheese, feta or Parmesan.

Recommended Equipment

Both a pizza stone and a pizza peel are highly recommended for making this pizza. This is not an affiliate link. I just want to give everyone a quick peek at a pizza stone and peel in case these are unfamiliar items.

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