Pesto, Heirloom Tomato, Purple Onion & Feta Pizza with No-Knead Dough

Jim Lahey was a genius. A revolutionary – right up there with Edison and Bell, and Arthur Fry (who invented the Post-It – why didn’t I think of that?) and Ruth Wakefield (who invented the chocolate chip cookie). He’s the guy who figured out how to make a glorious, crusty loaf of bread without kneading by mixing up a wet dough and leaving it on the countertop overnight, which apparently gives the gluten molecules a chance to align themselves in much the same way kneading does. Of course it could be that someone has done this before him (and I do recall making a similar dill bread in a casserole dish back in the 80s, but it was nowhere as good) but he brought it to the masses, and came up with the method of baking it in a heavy, heated pot, which traps the steam and creates an ideal crust without need for a steam-injected oven. Word on the ‘net is that his bread recipe was the most emailed story at the New York Times a few Novembers ago.
Since then a lot of people have run with the concept – there are no-knead bread cookbooks, and no-knead bread mixes, if you can believe that (then again it’s no sillier than pancake mix, which is what? flour, baking powder and salt?) and I’ve heard reports that it makes a decent bun and baguette as well, although I’m not sure how that works with baking it in a pot.
Guess what? Turns out you can make pizza dough using the same technique. Huzzah!
I discovered this over a year ago, quite by accident (late night, discovered bowl of no-knead bread dough on counter under mess, turned into pizza) and then promptly forgot. Then today at half an hour to noon, after having already been to BT, picked up a sick niece, and shot two Good Bite videos, my Mom called to say she was on her way over with my aunt and uncle from Ontario, who haven’t been here in decades, for lunch.
My aunt and uncle have an immaculate house. Nary a speck of dust or dish out of place. Mike and I snapped into action like a couple of panicked ninjas, pulling the place into reasonable shape and tossing a pizza into the oven in under half an hour. Fortunately, there was a bowl of no-knead dough on the countertop, ready to go. I spread it with jarred pesto and then sliced the last of the heirloom tomatoes from the Penticton Farmers’ Market, a few slivers of purple onion and a crumble of feta.
And lo – a beautiful, chewy, bulbous pizza crust better even than the regular old from-scratch pizza dough I mix up on a regular basis. And this took maybe a minute of actual work.
PHEW.
And if you want to be a superhero among moms, make stuffed-crust pizza: buy some mozzarella cheese sticks (or just the mozzarella, and cut it into sticks yourself) and run it around the edge of your pizza dough, then roll the edge over the cheese and pinch it to seal. As it bakes the cheese will melt, and everyone will think you’re a genius. Not only that – your kitchen won’t be all floury from your wonderfully chewy homemade dough, because you didn’t bother to knead it.
One Year Ago: Crispy Spaghetti & Meatballs and Zucchini Brownies













Only one word…yum, xv
What a beautiful pizza. I wasn’t wild about Jim Laey’s recipe when I made it, but this idea makes me want to reconsider.
Thank you – I wondered how to turn the no-knead bread into pizza dough. It’s what we’re having for dinner tomorrow! Can’t wait!!
Can’t wait to try this out. With out the super tidy realies coming to visit. I have more than a few sets of them.
Jen
Hmmm I have relatives coming this weekend…..
Pizza it is for today! I’ve found that using salsa (mild to medium) as a base sauce really takes it up a notch…maybe not everyone’s bag but I sure like it.
mmmmmmmmmm…love your choice of toppings! Must try that!
Thanks, getting pizza dough just right is a trick for sure. I am making calzones to freeze with the ends of the season harvest and am thrilled at the prospect of flour not being on every surface in the kitchen..
Why am I so scared of Yeast and bread dough??????. I have tried once and it was a bag we received from Michael Smith at Xmas in November supposed to be full proof welllll mine didn’t turn out. Gotta get over this and try again. Pizza looks do delish.
JUST DO IT. You can blame me if it doesn’t turn out!
Funny you should mention Michael – I talked to him today about his Twitter fiasco – someone was impersonating him and saying horrible things. He’s officially on Twitter now – @chefMICHAELsmth! @chef_at_home IS NOT HIM!
Hmmm, what happens if you use a rolling pin to spread the dough out, not your fingers? Will it de-air-ify?
I ask because mom-in-law bought us a BEAUTIFUL rolling pin I’ve yet to use…
Why not? However you want to get it into the shape you want, works!
Julie, you do amazing things. We all work best under pressure, but then you find time to write about it! In case another aunt comes for lunch, or when W brings home a horde here’s the pizza dough that saved my life more than once:
CRISPY BISCUIT PIZZA CRUST (for 2 crusts)
4 cups flour (use some whole wheat)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup margarine, shortening or a mixture
1 1/8 cups milk
Combine dry ingredients,cut in shortening, add milk, stirring with a fork, just til it forms a ball. Divide in half, knead just until smooth and roll out. Place on pizza pan and press to fit. Partially bake for 9 minutes at 425F while you prep the toppings and bake another 20.
Make ahead (if that ever happens), partially bake and freeze.
Have you not seen/tried the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day?
You don’t even have to leave it out overnight! You make the wet dough (a zillion different kinds in the book, incl pizza), let it sit for a couple hours, then use it and/or stick it in the fridge where it keeps for TWO WEEKS and you rip off a hunk whenever you want and let it come back to room temp and chuck it in the oven. You get that amazing crust and it’s SO easy. I never buy bread anymore.
I’ve seen the book, but don’t have it/haven’t read it. I’ll have to pick up a copy!
yummy!! looks so delicious!!
AH! This looks so fantastic. I am such a desperate pizza fan…embarressing…but this looks absolutely incredible. Yum. Might finally be up for making my own dough.
Thanks Julie for this recipe. I made it today to many raves from my hubby, 3 yr old and my 1 yr old gobbled it up. It was also so beautiful that I had to take pictures. I’ll be making this again!
i replaced water with warm milk no knead bread delicious!
Wow, I just tried this and it was so good! I was wondering, though – do you think the dough would freeze well? I’d love to keep some of this in the freezer for those rare occasions that I decide on a whim that I’d like some pizza, and don’t necessarily have 18-24 hours to let it rest.
In my experience, all pizza dough freezes very well!
Howdy would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads
a lot quicker then most. Can you recommend a good
hosting provider at a fair price? Thank you, I appreciate it!
This is the stripe of serenity I take advantage of reading.
More articles like this would pretence of the blogosphere richer.
azithromycin oral – ofloxacin 400mg canada order metronidazole 200mg pill
generic semaglutide 14mg – semaglutide 14mg brand buy periactin generic
order esomeprazole 40mg generic – https://anexamate.com/ oral esomeprazole 20mg
order coumadin pills – https://coumamide.com/ buy losartan 50mg pills
order meloxicam 15mg generic – moboxsin buy meloxicam tablets
order prednisone pills – arthritis order deltasone pills
buy ed meds – fastedtotake.com erection pills online
amoxicillin pills – https://combamoxi.com/ how to buy amoxil
how to get diflucan without a prescription – https://gpdifluca.com/ fluconazole over the counter
order lexapro 20mg for sale – site order escitalopram 10mg generic
buy cenforce 100mg online – cenforce 50mg oral buy cenforce cheap
tadalafil 5 mg tablet – generic cialis tadalafil 20 mg from india cialis no prescription
cialis one a day with dapoxetine canada – cialis medicine cialis over the counter in spain
buy ranitidine medication – https://aranitidine.com/ zantac 300mg cheap
best place order viagra – https://strongvpls.com/ order genuine viagra
Thanks recompense sharing. It’s acme quality. para que es el prednisolona
The vividness in this ruined is exceptional. https://buyfastonl.com/azithromycin.html
This is the amicable of serenity I enjoy reading. https://ursxdol.com/azithromycin-pill-online/
This is the compassionate of writing I in fact appreciate. https://prohnrg.com/product/rosuvastatin-for-sale/
More posts like this would force the blogosphere more useful. https://aranitidine.com/fr/ciagra-professional-20-mg/
This is the tolerant of advise I unearth helpful. https://ondactone.com/spironolactone/
This is the kind of topic I have reading.
https://doxycyclinege.com/pro/losartan/
This website absolutely has all of the information and facts I needed to this participant and didn’t positive who to ask. http://ledyardmachine.com/forum/User-Rdckkm
dapagliflozin online buy – https://janozin.com/# how to buy forxiga
cheap orlistat – on this site orlistat order
I am in truth enchant‚e ‘ to gleam at this blog posts which consists of tons of worthwhile facts, thanks towards providing such data. https://experthax.com/forum/member.php?action=profile&uid=124815
You can protect yourself and your family close being heedful when buying panacea online. Some druggist’s websites function legally and put forward convenience, reclusion, rate savings and safeguards over the extent of purchasing medicines. buy in TerbinaPharmacy https://terbinafines.com/product/neurontin.html neurontin
More articles like this would pretence of the blogosphere richer. cenforce 100 dur?©e
I am in truth thrilled to gleam at this blog posts which consists of tons of of use facts, thanks for providing such data.
betmgm New York betmgm CT betmgm Georgia
Crave big wins? Sweet Bonanza serves them up with vibrant graphics and high-volatility action. Bonus sweet bonanza tumble feature buys and ante bets make it even sweeter. Spin away!
Feel the thunder of the plains in every spin of this legendary game. aristocrat buffalo slot unleashes golden buffalo bonuses, endless free spins, and massive payouts for non-stop excitement. Start your stampede to fortune today!
Chumba Casino: free coins, real wins, endless fun. Sign up today for your welcome chumba casino real cash prizes bonus and play the hottest games around. Join now!
Feel the power of DraftKings free spins Casino today. Get 500 spins after a simple $5 bet, plus up to $1,000 reimbursed if losses hit in the first day. Epic slots, live tables—play like a king!
Prestante preplacet! Generika za super ceny > opravdovalekarna.cz
koupit Atarax
Upon the millions winning momentous on fan maxxwins – the #1 tangible pelf casino app in America.
Reach your $1000 TEASE IT AGAIN gratuity and deny b decrease every relate, ???? and rolling into real readies rewards.
Permanent =’pretty damned quick’ payouts, immense jackpots, and non-stop effect – download FanDuel Casino now and start playing like a pro today!
Mostbet: qualidade premium, b??nus gigante e emo?§??o 24 horas – https://mostbetpt.pro/ , No Mostbet voc?? recebe 111% de b??nus + 250 free spins para arrasar nos jogos .
One card flip and silence turns into thunder – https://gpdifluca.com/mostbet-2026-3/ , Come for the game, stay for the legend .
Pharmacie o?? qualit?© rime avec proximit?© et bon rapport qualit?©-prix – https://www.pharmacie-odeon-saint-joseph.com/mentions-legales/ , Nous sommes l? pour vous, du simple conseil au besoin urgent .