I wanted to recreate a favorite from California Pizza Kitchen and I think this Pear, Gorgonzola and Hazelnut Pizza with Mixed Greens was right on the money. It’s light, so tasty and pretty to boot!
There are two pizzas that left a lasting impression on me in all the years I’ve had pizza. The first was at Bonnie Brae Tavern, a long time establishment in the beautiful old Denver neighborhood of Bonnie Brae where I had the first pizza in my life without tomato sauce and I was in love. So in love I never went back to red sauce and sausage.
Olive oil, mozzarella, garlic and artichoke hearts had made my day and started a trend for me I’ve never abandoned. Olive oil, cheese and nuts seem to be a constant with either a companion fruit or veggie but I have to say when I first met this Pear, Gorgonzola and Hazelnut Pizza with Mixed Greens I thought I had found my true nirvana.
A new pizza place had opened at a new mall and my daughters were eager to go. Called California Pizza Kitchen, it was light, bright and nothing at all like ‘pizza joints’ of our experience.
While standards were on the menu, I always found that I was drawn to more unique combinations and this is the first pizza I tried there and I’m thinking that 15 years later it might still be the only one I’ve ever ordered too.
Pears, sweet caramelized onions and toasted hazelnuts are topped with chilled greens and served with house-made Gorgonzola ranch.
I have not been to California Pizza Kitchen in a long time but it wasn’t hard to source the ingredients from their menu and I’m glad I checked because I might have forgotten the caramelized onions and that would have been a shame.
I did wing it a bit and for good reason. The pizzas I’ve order at CPK were individual size and I was making a large pizza. I decided to have the base consist of cheese, caramelized onions and pears topped with the salad, and if my tablemates chose they could add the toasted nuts and Gorgonzola cheese.
Research has CPK call the dressing a Gorgonzola Ranch dressing and one site I found hoping to find a recipe suggested mixing Ranch dressing with some Gorgonzola cheese. Nope, can’t do it. I don’t have any ready made dressings in my fridge so I whipped up something of my own with mayo, buttermilk, sour cream and Gorgonzola and I’m delighted I made more than I needed; it’s so good!
Let’s talk about pizza dough. I’ve made my own dough but to be honest; it’s not for me. Pizza is more often a spur of the moment thing and the hours it takes to make dough would change that dramatically. On the opposite end of the make it yourself spectrum are the rolls of dough in the refrigerator case at the grocery store. Though I will use some of those products I just don’t like the pizza dough; for one thing I like a round pizza, after all I have a round pizza stone.
So I wanted to share my passion for the Venice Bakery pizza dough I find at Sprouts in the freezer case. Yes you have to let it thaw and directions say best if overnight. Then the next suggestion is a couple of hours on the counter. OR?
I defrosted it in the microwave! For one pound of dough I put in specs for just one/half pound. Then I turned it over and did it for one/quarter pound. I did not want it to get warm at all. Then I rubbed it with some olive oil and put it in a bowl, covered it and put it into the oven I had preheated and then turned OFF. Took about an hour and it was at least doubled in volume and worked like a charm!
I love this pizza and even more I love that I can have this pizza without a trip to Park Meadows Mall. It’s quite a bit further from me since a move a couple of years ago so my ‘quick’ trips there which might have included a lunch stop are rare and now I have one more favorite I can make at home. Score!
PIN ‘Pear, Gorgonzola and Hazelnut Pizza with Mixed Greens’
Pear, Gorgonzola and Hazelnut Pizza with Mixed Greens
Ingredients
- Pizza dough; homemade or store bought
- Olive oil
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, divided
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 2 pears, cored and sliced
- Fresh greens; I used a combination of Romaine and Radicchio; mixed greens would be nice too.
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted
- 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (I never buy buttermilk, simply add the juice of one lemon to regular milk and let it sit for a few minutes until it thickens)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp Gorgonzola cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spread the pizza out on a pizza stone or baking sheet.
- Brush with some olive oil.
- Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese on the dough and top the cheese with the cooked onions.
- Place the pear slices on top of the onions in a circular fashion in two or more rows and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until top is nicely browned.
- Remove from the oven and top individual slices with the greens, toasted nuts, Gorgonzola cheese and dressing.
Notes
A discerning eye might notice those are not hazelnuts in the photos. I sure thought I had some but when I discovered there were none in my HUGE box of what I think must be every other nut imaginable, I decided to punt and use walnuts. Because I provide the title of my post and the URL to Food Network a week in advance and didn't want to make everyone have to revise their info...I let it go.
Truth be told? The walnuts were great so if you're like me and have a huge bag of walnuts and no hazelnuts in sight? Go for it!
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 814Total Fat 61gSaturated Fat 20gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 37gCholesterol 97mgSodium 1036mgCarbohydrates 42gFiber 10gSugar 19gProtein 30g
I have been reading a lot of stuff about it. but it is different presented, i loved to read this. keep it up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.. this is really interesting. I would like to read more from you.
can someone tell me how to get the little avatars to appear in my comments section? thanks!
wow, i have learned a lot of recipes from you.
The result was surprising, my whole family enjoyed the food I cooked,
Thanks again, I hope you will share more, I will follow your page.
goodbye
Lovely pictures, awesome these are looking so funny interesting but professional and artistic pics.
This pizza is just delicious and really quick to put together. I always have most of these ingredients in my house so I know I’ll be making it often.
Fantastic taste. Everyone wanted the recipe.
Made this today ….. so good!!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it Sophie, it’s still a favorite of ours too!
Honestly that pizza made me drool! Wow I badly wanna have a slice of those
I made that pizza Melissa because it was my favorite on the menu of a local place. I heard they no longer make it there so I’m really glad I put it on my blog because it’s still a favorite!
Sounds delicious!! And looks great. I for sure will try it:)..Blessings:)
This was my favorite CPK pizza ever, sadly last year is when I went in drooling and found out they don’t serve it anymore. ?. Now, I’m going to have to make it for dinner tomorrow!, my mouth is watering!
Don’t you hate it when that happens? Glad I could help, it was always my favorite too!
Pizza-licous recipe for everyone. My family love to it pizza, and they will get curious if I make Hazelnut with green veggies on top. It’s healthy and mouthwatering.
I definitely like pizza that doesn’t follow a very traditional route. Try it I bet they love it!
Honestly that pizza made me drool! Wow I badly wanna have a slice of those
It looks fabulous! I love the cheeses you used with the pears. So delicious! Great job!
Honestly that pizza made me drool! Wow I badly wanna have a slice of those
this is the first time I see pear gorgonzola hazelnut pizza recipe.
I was looking for a recipe that is unique and delicious and this recipe is just amazing I’ll be making this for my girl’s night in party.
So glad you enjoyed it Veronica and thanks for taking the time to let me know…it’s one of my favorites!
This is by far my favorite pizza. Ever. Thank you so much for posting your experimentation and your results. I recently moved from the city to a more rural area lacking a California Pizza Kitchen and I crave this pizza. I cannot wait to try this recipe. You seriously made my afternoon!
That’s good to hear! I love it too and a move I made puts CPK a good half hour from me now and I haven’t been in a long, long time. It’s my favorite too; not unlike a salad with similar flavors that I always get at Nordstrom’s Cafe; there is something about the pear and gorgonzola that are just perfect together isn’t there? So glad I could help…that’s my dream!
Wow! This looks amazing! I would try making these pear, gorgonzola and hazelnut pizza with greens​ for sure! Can I post it on my blog?
That pear, gorgonzola and hazelnut pizza is so Instagrammable and adorable! As you know, I made it a short while ago, and it was lovely! Thx for sharing!
And thank you for letting me know…it’s one of my favorites.
This pear, gorgonzola and hazelnut pizza just looks so incredibly delicious and I am so craving a slice right now!
And now I am too Bella; it truly is a huge favorite of mine.
Definitely your pear gorgonzola hazelnut pizza recipe is awesomeness! This is a great recipe, as you know I made it a short while ago and it was lovely, in fact have made it again since. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jill…so glad you love it too. Of course now I am absolutely craving it and not a pear in the house..that must change!
This is a lovely healthy salad served up on a delicious pizza crust!
I could eat this every day Paula…as a matter of fact I think I did for 3 days…which is fine by me; I LOVE leftovers!
I am a pizza lover from way back and this one is calling my name – it’s beautiful Barb!
Thanks Tricia; it really is so good; I think even better when made at home and enjoyed in your jammies. :P)
This looks beyond amazing – can’t wait to try it!