This White Pizza Recipe also known as Pizza Bianca, an easy tasty pizza made with pancetta, mozzarella, parmesan flakes and arugula. So good, you will never miss the Sauce!
Whenever I made pizza, ate it in a restaurant or ordered take out it was always red pizza with olives or a classic Margherita. Never white, why? I have no idea!
How to make it
Prepare your pizza dough, whether you are making homemade or store bought.
Place the dough on a pizza pan or even a cookie sheet will work, stretch the dough to form your desired shape, top with pancetta and a drizzle of olive oil, and bake.
Remove from the oven and top with grated mozzarella cheese, bake for another few minutes until the cheese has melted. Just before serving top with arugula (rocket) and sprinkle with flakes of parmesan. Serve while hot.
Quite awhile ago, I was out shopping with my sister-in-law and I noticed her buying arugula and parmesan. At that time I wasn’t really impressed with Rugula/Rocket (arugula) and I asked her what she was planning to do with it. She told me she made pizza with it. We discussed how I had never really used arugula and then she told me about one of the most scrumptious pizzas ever, which I am sharing today.
Who invented Pizza?
It is thought that the Italian baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples was the first to make a “pizza pie”. Although it is also thought that street vendors in Naples would sell flatbreads with toppings for many years before Raffaele.
Apparently the Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples sometime in 1889. Esposito was asked to make a pizza for them. He proceeded to top the pizza with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. That pizza was named Pizza Margherita and of course is still extremely popular today.
So what exactly is a White Pizza?
One thing I have learned since I’ve been living in Italy is that White Pizza is extremely underrated. There are basically two types of Pizza Bianca here, one with just a drizzle of olive oil and sometimes coarse salt, that is purchased usually as a snack, especially for kids. Or sometimes it is sliced through the centre and stuffed with mortadella (so good). And of course this type, which is usually served in restaurants.
Different Toppings
Pancetta can be substituted with Italian sausage or even shrimp. You can use fresh or grilled vegetables as your topping as long as you don’t add tomatoes. You can also use a store bought crust but the best way to enjoy pizza is to make your own dough. Pizza dough is one of the easiest yeast doughs to make and so worth it.
How to store it
Any leftover pizza should be wrapped and stored in the fridge. You can re heat it in the microwave or a low oven. If you know you are going to have leftovers then it might be a good idea to add the arugula before serving as re heating will wilt and dry it up.
More White Pizza Recipes
Italian Sausage Artichoke Cheese Pizza
Grilled Zucchini Pizza with Arugula
Homemade Potato Pizza – Two Ways
Now for every Red Pizza I make I will make 2 White Pizzas, so give it a try, nothing beats a great and tasty White Pizza Recipe. I bet you won’t even miss the sauce. Buon Appetito!
Italian Pizza Bianca/White
Ingredients
- 1 pizza crust (homemade or store bought)
- 3/4 cup pancetta (chopped)
- 1 cup firm mozzarella (shredded)
- 1-2 tablespoons flaked fresh parmesan cheese (flake with a potato peeler)
- 1 cup fresh arugula ( if the leaves are large cut in half)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425-450F (225-250C). Lightly oil a 12 inch pizza pan (30 cm).
- Prepare your pizza dough, whether you are making Homemade or store bought. Place the dough on a pizza pan or even a cookie sheet will work, stretch the dough to form your desired shape, top with the cubed pancetta and a drizzle of olive oil, and bake for approximately 10-12 minutes or until crust is golden and baked.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and top with the shredded mozzarella cheese, bake for approximately 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven, top with arugula (rocket) and sprinkle with flakes of parmesan. Serve while hot. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Updated from February 24, 2018.
Erika says
This is the best pizza I’ve ever made! That pizza dough was soft and it was so easy to make! Thank you! 🙂
Rosemary says
Thanks so much Erika, glad you liked it. Take care.
Deborah Rio says
I made this recipe last Sunday evening. It was delicious – even MY Italian said “We can have this again!” I was surprised that I even had time to make the pizza dough and it rose in plenty of time. The Arugula was a new twist for us and the pancetta gave it just the right complimentary flavor. So thanks once again for another happy ending to a new recipe.
Rosemary says
Hi Deborah, thanks so much, so glad you both enjoyed it. Take care.
Nancy Kane says
Cannot wait to make this
Sounds fast + easy + tasty
I prefer white prefer 2/1, over red any day ❤
Rosemary says
Hi Nancy, thanks so much and yes one of my favourites also. Have a great weekend.
Joan says
Pizza bianca in the town where my husband is from (Viterbo) is so delicious. Whenever we make pizza we always do two large, one with sauce and one white. The white pizza is just topped with olive oil, salt and fresh rosemary. You must try it!
Rosemary says
Hi Joan, yes usually in Italy white pizza with olive oil and fresh rosemary is sold in bakeries (forno) and a white pizza that I shared is more a restaurant pizza. Take care.
Kathleen says
Great pizza! I bought fresh dough and left the dough out for 3 hours on a cookie sheet under a bowl. It was much easier to spread. Greased pizza sheet with olive oil. Instead of pancetta I used pre-diced prosciutto. Cooked exactly according to directions. Delicious!!
Rosemary says
Thanks Kathleen, glad you enjoyed it. Take care.
Mikr says
I make mine with anchovies fresh mushrooms kalamata olives cspers sometimes and a sprinkle of chill flakes.
Rosemary says
Hi Mikr, that sounds amazing. Have a great Sunday.
Brian Jones says
I love the sound of this, idea… The Hungarians have a version of white pizza and that has a base sauce of sour cream, it’ not for me but my wife loves it.
Rosemary says
Hi Brian, hmmm that sounds interesting, I think I will stick with the Italian way 😉
Meaghan | Cook. Craft. Love. says
I love love love pizza but I have to admit I’m pretty boring when it comes to toppings. But I have some white sauce leftover after making shrimp alfredo the other day so I’m definitely making this one!
Rosemary says
Hi Meaghan, I have never made it with white sauce, but let me know how it turns out.
Mary says
We first tried arugula on pizza in California… so good! It’s a staple on our grilled pizzas in the summer. I’m loving the simplicity of the topping combination here. Maybe for the first grilled pizza of the season. 😉
Rosemary says
Hi Mary, I love the stuff I could put it on everything. Thanks and have a great week.
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
These pizza recipes look fabulous! Can’t wait to try some of them. Thanks for sharing! Anything that makes pizza healthier is a winner in my book!
Rosemary says
Hi Kristina, thanks so much. Hope you enjoy it.
Maria @ kitchenathoskins says
Simple yet healthy!! I’ve never tried pizza with arugula before, but the salty panchetta would pair perfectly with the spicy arugula, YUM!!
Rosemary says
Hi Maria, I hope you try it because it is delicious. I can never get enough arugula. 🙂
Ann says
There is nothing like white pizza. I usually make mine with ricotta cheese and fresh mozzarella. Definitely am going to try your recipe. Thank you.
Rosemary says
Hi Ann, oh that sounds good, I will have to try that next time. Hope you enjoy it.