Some people love the warm and sunny days of Summer or the newness of Spring but I love the crisp light and fresh smells of Autumn. When I think of our wonderful country Canada I think of Fall in Ontario - and that means crisp mornings, fall colours, pumpkins and of course apples. Honeycrisp are my favourite but I also love McIntosh, Gala and Idared.
Fall also makes me think of good old-fashioned candy apples. As I kid I loved candied apples, well I think it was more of the idea of them, when you actually tried to bit into one, which is kinda impossible and all that red sticky candy got stuck in your teeth I gave up since I could hear my mother...you will get cavities if you eat that. I don't think I liked them anyways, not as much as apple pie.
But apples are not just for pies... and I am pretty sure that you have lots of recipes for apple pie, but do you have a recipe for a pizza pie with apples?
This Apple Pizza with Walnut Pesto recipe is a little crispy, a little sweet, a little savoury. If you start with a prepared crust and make the pesto ahead of time, (it keeps well in the fridge), you will have a really quick dinner. All you have left to do is slice the apples and onions and dinner is ready in about 20 minutes. When the pie comes out of the oven finish with a drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and freshly ground pepper. And if you have lots of apples left you could always make some candy apples for dessert!
I saw these freshly made candy apples just waiting to be wrapped at Country Produce in Orillia.
This is the time of year to go apple picking and Ontario apples are just ripe for picking and eating. For a list of where to find local visit Harvest Ontario, Ontario’s largest directory of agritourism attractions.
Support local and buy Ontario apples and let's celebrate the season!
Autumn Apple Pizza with Walnut Pesto
The dairy-free pesto that is made with a combination of basil and spinach, making it super green and super healthy.
Serves: 2-3 as a main entree or 4-6 as an appetizer.
For the Pizza Dough:
Use any Pizza dough recipe you like, store bought or homemade. I used a whole grain crust for mine.
Ingredients for the Pesto:
1/2 cup walnuts
2 cloves garlic or 1 large
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups fresh basil
2 cups fresh spinach
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp lime juice
Ingredients to top the Pizza:
1 apple, sliced, (I like using a tart apple)
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
olive oil to brush on the outside crust of the pizza
salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
drizzle of balsamic vinegar
drizzle of olive oil
lots of freshly ground pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Blend all the ingredients for the pesto in a food processor, taste and adjust seasoning.
3. Roll out the pizza dough into two crusts or one big one. (I find it is easier to roll out 2 smaller crusts).
4. Spread the pesto evenly on each crust.
5. Layer the apple slices on the pizzas.
6. Top with the sliced red onion.
7. Brush the crust lightly with some olive oil.
8. Bake the pizzas at 425 degrees F for at least 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden.
9. Garnish, cut and serve.
Cooks Notes:
If you don't have time to make your own pizza dough store bought is perfect to use in this recipe.
Feel free to use any kind of apple you like
You could also use a flat bread or Naan bread or gluten-free crust.
This recipe is vegan but you could add cheese, such as Buffalo mozzarella, chèvre or go with classic cheddar.
Store any leftover pesto in a glass jar in the fridge.