Mushroom-Thyme White Pizza

Prep Time: 20 mins       Cook Time: 25 mins      Total Time: 45 mins    Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh pizza dough
• flour for dusting
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1lb of mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided, or more to taste
• 1 (5 ounce) package fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• ½ cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• shaved Pecorino Romano cheese, for garnish

Note: Toppings can be substituted with favored ingredients

Directions

1. Put a pizza stone or baking sheet on the middle oven rack. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out into a 14-inch circle. Transfer to a piece of parchment paper or a cookie sheet lightly dusted with flour or cornmeal. Cover with a kitchen towel; let stand at room temperature until ready to use.
3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add your choice of mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in oregano, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Transfer mushroom mixture to a bowl. (Do not wipe skillet clean.)
4. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Add spinach and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
5. Stir together ricotta, Pecorino-Romano, garlic, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in the bowl until well combined. Brush dough with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Spread ricotta mixture in an even layer over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over ricotta mixture. Top with cooked mushrooms and spinach.
6. Carefully transfer pizza on parchment to hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake until cheese is bubbly and crust is deeply golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
7. Transfer pizza and parchment to a cutting board; let stand 5 minutes. Remove parchment. Garnish with additional thyme, a few grinds of pepper, and shaved Pecorino-Romano cheese.