Pesto Pizza

Pizza Dough In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Gradually add the warm water and olive oil, mixing until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

Rising the Dough Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.

Pesto Sauce Meanwhile, prepare the pesto sauce. In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth and creamy.

Rolling out the Dough Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Punch down the risen dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough into a round pizza crust.

Assembling the Pizza Transfer the rolled-out dough onto a greased baking sheet or pizza stone. Spread a generous amount of pesto sauce over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.

Adding Toppings Top the pesto sauce with cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onions, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Baking the Pizza Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serving the Pizza Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Slice and serve hot.