I grew up near New Haven, CT, home of Pepe’s Pizza!
They make the best pizza anywhere and one of their specialty pizzas is a scrumptious white clam pizza.
We visit Pepe’s whenever we can but don’t get there very often. My husband and I decided to recreate their white clam pizza at home. The bacon is not found on Pepe’s Pizza but it’s a delicious addition. This pizza would be excellent cut into small squares and served as an appetizer. It also makes a very satisfying Sunday supper!
Clam and Bacon Pizza
Directions:
Prepare pizza dough. We use our regular pizza dough recipe. While the pizza dough is rising prepare the clam and bacon topping.
Ingredients for the Clam and Bacon Topping:
4 oz sliced bacon, diced
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp oregano
Pinch of dried red pepper flakes
1 ½ cups of minced clams, fresh is best
1 ½ Tbsp parsley
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Sauté the bacon in a skillet under-cooked but not crisp.
Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Add the olive oil to the bacon grease in the skillet. Stir in the garlic, oregano and the pepper flakes and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the clams and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Removed from the heat and stir in the parsley and bacon.
Set aside. Punch the dough down and form your pizza crust. Thankfully my husband makes the best pizza dough!
Spread the clam topping evenly over the dough.
Scatter the Parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake at 500 for 15 minutes.
When done, cut into slices and serve.
Best eaten hot.
If there is any left it is delicious for lunch the next day.
Nancy on the Home Front 