Fennel Ricotta
Originally from New Zealand, this Fennel Ricotta pizza is a very tasty pizza you will likely enjoy.
Baked well, this pizza enjoys a heavenly taste and supreme aroma to enjoy.
Best made with high quality toppings and pair these with the perfect crust for you and friends to savor a perfect meal together.
If you crave Vegetarian pizza with Tomato pizza sauce you will absolutely enjoy this one.
Pizza in New Zealand
Naples-style pizza is very popular throughout New Zealand, with a crunchy, crispy crust with a selection of toppings that are local from New Zealand, as well as imported Aged Cheeses and Meats.
Take a look at some of the other pizzas from New Zealand here.
| Origin | New Zealand |
| Type | Vegetarian |
| Sauce | Tomato Sauce |
Fennel Ricotta Pizza Recipe
Below we’ve put together a recipe for you to make your own homemade Fennel Ricotta Pizza whether it be in your backyard pizza oven or on a pizza stone in your oven.
| Dough | 2 hours |
| Assembly | 10 minutes |
| Baking | 12-20 minutes |
Fennel Ricotta Pizza Ingredients
Choose enough pizza toppings for the amount of pizzas you will be creating. The pizza sauce and dough ingredients below are designed for 3-4 pizzas, so scale up or down, based on your requirements.
Simple Pizza dough
- 2 tsps (7 g sachet) dried yeast
- 1 cup (250 ml) luke-warm water
- 400 g (2 2/3 cups) 00 or pizza flour
- 2 tsps salt
- 3 tbsps (1/4 cup) olive oil
Fennel Ricotta Pizza Toppings
Toppings used in this pizza recipe, are;
- Ricotta
- Orange Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Sliced fennel
Tomato Pizza Sauce
- 1 can (15oz/420g) tomatoes, whole or crushed
- 1 can (6oz/170g) tomato paste
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 1/4 a small onion
- 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs
- 1 tsp salt
Want to try a different sauce? See our article on the different types of pizza sauces.
TIP
You can click on any of the tags at the bottom of this page, to find other pizzas besides Fennel Ricotta Pizza, that use that topping.
Pizza Dough Method
Purchase a premade pizza base at your local store, or if you have time, make your own homemade dough following the simple steps below. Some shops even carry pizza dough balls.
- Whisk yeast and lukewarm water in a jug. Stand for around five minutes.
- Add flour and salt in a large bowl. Create a well in the centre of the flour. Pour in the liquid yeast mixture and the oil.
- Using a spatula, or your hands, mix the dough really well until smooth. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for five minutes.
- Lightly oil a bowl, and place dough in it and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes to an hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for another 5 minutes or until smooth.
- Divide the dough into balls, and roll out bases to desired size.
- Sprinkle a little flour on the bench before rolling to prevent dough from sticking.
TIP: We have other dough recipes if you would like to try your hand at sourdough, poolish or more.
Tomato Pizza Sauce Method
You can make this delicious pizza sauce following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a pizza sauce at your local store.
- Add ingredients in a large bowl, and stir or blend well.
- Ensure all ingredients are mixed together well.
- Keep mixture sitting for five minutes.
- Your sauce is now ready. Enjoy!
- Keep sauce in fridge or freeze for future use.
If you need to freeze this sauce, use an ice cube tray. Each cube is perfect for a small to medium sized pizza.
Preparing Fennel Ricotta Pizza
Start by heating your oven to at least 450 degrees.
Spread out your dough on a well floured surface.
If you have a pizza peel, flour the peel and create your pizza on it.
Start by spreading the sauce all over the base. This pizza uses Tomato Sauce. Spread the Tomato Sauce Thinly yet evenly, leaving a margin for the crust.
Add the largest toppings first – typically meat or seafood, then the smaller toppings.
Add cheese last, and sprinkle it all over to help keep the toppings in place when it melts.
This pizza has the following toppings:
- Ricotta
- Orange Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Sliced fennel
I find this pizza delicious as is, or you could with other pizzas as well?
Oven time
Put the Fennel Ricotta pizza on the middle shelf of the oven and set a timer for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, open the door and check the pizza.
This pizza should take approximately 15 minutes, however allow it to cook to personal taste.
About Ricotta
An Italian whey cheese, Ricotta is created from made from cow, goat, sheep or Italian water buffalo milk whey, which remains after the production of other types of cheeses.
Ricotta is light and Creamy with a delicate, slightly grainy texture which can be used on its own or added to both sweet and savoury dishes. Ricotta is considered one of the healthiest cheeses, containing less salt and only 10 per cent fat, of which 6 per cent is saturated.
Pizza Tools
When making Fennel Ricotta Pizza, I always recommend that you use what you have available, without spending lots of money. My basic pizza tool list is…
Dough Containers
Dough storage containers must be of high quality and airtight.
Quality Food Containers
Leftovers need to go somewhere, and I don’t enjoy using aluminium foil or plastic wrap all the time. A couple of good air tight containers should be in every home.
Pizza Peel
Sometimes called a paddle or shovel, a pizza peel is a vital tool for those who make pizza regularly.
Lemon
Lemon is a unique pizza topping that is rarely seen outside of its native homeland Italy. The tangy and acidic taste of lemon provides a refreshing alternative to the usual tomato sauce and cheese combination popular worldwide.
The taste of tartness from the lemon pairs particularly well with seafood toppings for pizzas, such as anchovies, shrimp and squid. Lemon can also be used in more inventive recipes to provide an interesting twist on traditional Italian recipes.
Storage Ideas
Have leftover pizza? Here’s what to do.
Warming up
Warm in the center of a 450 degree F oven for approximately 6 minutes, on a pizza stone if possible, until heated through. See our article on reheating pizza for more.
Freezer guide
You can store leftover pizza in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen as directed above until heated through.
Store in the fridge
Leftover slices of pizza may be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Pizza making FAQ
Want to know how to make great pizza at home? Here are some helpful answers to the most frequently asked questions.
How to cut pizza without pizza cutter?
If you don’t have a pizza cutter, you can use a large kitchen knife, or even scissors!
How long is frozen pizza good for?
It is typically recommended that you do not store frozen pizza for any longer than three months in the freezer.
Can I substitute some of the herbs when making pizza?
Of course! One of the things I love about making pizza is trying different combinations. There’s a plethora of herbs out there to choose from, some which will work together and some that don’t. Explore your taste preferences and substitute any herbs in recipes.
Have you made Fennel Ricotta Pizza?
Let us know what you think of Fennel Ricotta Pizza! Tag us on our Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you thought of it! I’d love to know.
Featured image: Source
