This allows for the basil to shine as well, adding a wonderful freshness which, in combination with the olives, allows for a filling, invigorating slice. Pihu Jain / Daily Nexus

My family has been obsessed with pizza since long before we came to this country. As a little girl, my mom often made Indian-style pizza with paneer, Amul cheese and a sizzling mix of Indian spices. When we came to America, pizza was one of the few things that translated over quite easily for us. While my parents often found themselves pouring numerous packets of red chili flakes and salt onto their slices, they gradually found themselves appreciating some of the other flavor combinations that a pizza could hold beyond mouth-watering yet numbing spice. 

Of the many combinations that have stuck for my parents is the classic basil olive pizza. The two star ingredients, basil and olives, are known to be tried and true staples on any pizza dish. What makes this specific recipe special is the replacement of the common black olive with its more mild and meaty cousin, the Spanish Queen olive. What’s great about these olives is the depth they add to your pizza without overpowering the other ingredients, which too many black olives can often do. This allows for the basil to shine as well, adding a wonderful freshness which, in combination with the olives, allows for a filling, invigorating slice. For this recipe, my dad makes his own dough, for which I will include the recipe and instructions below — but if you’re short on time and eager to get eating, then a simple thin crust pizza base purchased at the nearest grocery store will do. 

Spanish Queen olive-basil pizza

Servings: 4

Time: 1 hour (2.5 total hours if making your own dough)

Ingredients:

  • 1 thin crust pizza base (any kind you like; if you’re feeling extra adventurous, don’t hesitate to look up a pizza base recipe and make it yourself!)
    • If making your own pizza base:
      • 2 cups flour
      • 1 ½ cup water
      • 1 teaspoon yeast
      • 1 teaspoon salt
      • 1 teaspoon sugar
      • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 large white onion
  • ½ cup marinara sauce (or as much as you want, so long as the base is covered)
  • Mozzarella cheese, to preference
  • Handful of Spanish Queen olives (cut in half)
  • Basil leaves, to preference
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon thyme, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon rosemary

Instructions:

  1. If making the dough by hand:
    1. Mix together all ingredients for dough in a mixing bowl, first using a utensil of choice, then with your hands once the dough starts to become firm (make sure all ingredients are properly incorporated)
    2. Once dough is firm, dust with flour and place in refrigerator for two hours
    3. After two hours, take dough out and cut in half (half of the dough = 1 pizza base, the other half can be stored and used later)
    4. Dust your surface of choice with flour, then use a rolling pin to roll out your pizza base (make sure it is even, but not too thin so that it breaks)
    5. Dust top of base with flour
  2. Preheat oven to 500°F
  3. Take your pizza base and spread marinara sauce so that the base is covered evenly (starting from the center, spread outward in a circular motion)
  4. Grate your mozzarella cheese onto the pizza
  5. Cut onion into thin slices, evenly distributing around pizza
  6. Do the same with the olives and basil, ensuring an even spread of toppings
  7. Garnish pizza with optional seasonings as mentioned above
  8. Place pizza into oven once heated, and leave in 500°F for at least eight minutes or until cheese is perfectly melted and bottom of pizza appears crispy
  9. Take out the pizza, let it cool for a few minutes, then season and dig in!

I hope this recipe inspires you to make more pizzas and experiment with your own toppings and flavor combinations. This can start from something as simple as changing the type of olive you use. Enjoy!

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