Pizza Pollo Margherita

The great thing about pizza - besides the fact that everyone seems to love it - is that there are so many different ways to make it, that you basically can't screw it up!  And like I always say, don't ever worry about screwing it up - you can always order pizza.  So order this up - at home.  And if you don't have one of the ingredients, substitute another.

Ajvar (aye-var), a middle eastern spread made from roasted eggplant and red pepper, makes a fine sauce base - but use your favorite pizza sauce if that's all you've got.
2 boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
1/2 cup favorite vinaigrette or Italian dressing

2 large prepared flatbread pizza crusts
1/4 cup Ajvar, red pepper and eggplant spread
1 cup fresh ricotta cheese
1/4 lb sliced Jarlesburg cheese
1/4 lb sliced aged cheddar cheese
1 fresh ripe tomato, cubed
8-10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Marinate the chicken breasts in the dressing for at least an hour, if not overnight in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, return the chicken to room temperature.

Heat a grill to high. Grill the chicken about 3-5 minutes per side, turning several times.

Allow the chicken to just cook through and develop nice grill lines. Remove the chicken to a platter and allow to rest and cool to room temperature - at least cool enough to handle.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 450F. Spread the ajvar evenly about two flatbread pizza crusts on baking sheets. When the chicken is cool enough, shred into strips.

Layer the cheese and the chicken evenly on top of the ajvar. Top with dollops of the ricotta and scatter the tomatoes and basil on top. Top with green onion and the Parmesan cheese.

Bake pizza for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is molten and bubbly.

Serves 4.

Cook’s Note: You can use any of your favorite cheeses for this. If you can’t find Ajvar, you can use Trader Joe’s red pepper and eggplant spread - which is basically Ajvar under a different name.

I usually cook 2-3 times the amount of chicken I need for recipes like this and freeze the grilled chicken, ready for use with other dishes at a moment’s notice.