Pizza with Serrano Ham, Arugula and Dried Tomatoes

When you combine the salty taste of Serrano ham, the crisp freshness of arugula and the intense flavor notes of dried tomatoes, you create a pizza that is both delicious and elegant. This pizza is perfect for a cozy dinner at home, where you want to treat yourself and your guests to flavors that balance the fresh and the salty in a fantastic way. The Serrano ham adds depth to the pizza, while the slightly bitter flavor of the arugula breaks up the fat and the dried tomatoes add an intense sweetness. The pizza is easy to make and with a few good ingredients, you’ll soon have a dish that will impress. Read on to learn how you can make this delicious pizza in your own kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough (homemade or bought)
• 150 g mozzarella cheese
• 100 g serrano ham in thin slices
• 50 g dried tomatoes (in oil)
• 1 handful of fresh arugula
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic (pressed)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Freshly grated parmesan (optional)

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C and prepare the pizza dough by rolling it out to the desired size.
2. In a small bowl, mix olive oil and pressed garlic. Then brush the pizza base with the mixture to give it an aromatic base.
3. Spread the tomato paste over the dough in a thin layer.
4. Grate or slice the mozzarella and spread it evenly over the pizza.
5. Cut the dried tomatoes into smaller pieces and spread them around the pizza.
6. Bake the pizza in the oven for about 12-15 minutes or until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
7. Remove the pizza from the oven and carefully place the slices of Serrano ham on the hot pizza.
8. Top with fresh rocket and a sprinkle of parmesan for extra flavor.
9. Season to taste with freshly ground pepper and serve immediately.

How to prepare the dish:

The most important thing with this pizza is to ensure that the ingredients are of high quality. A good pizza dough is the foundation and you can either make it yourself or buy it ready-made. Make sure your mozzarella is fresh as this will give it a better melting and flavor. Serrano ham is added after baking to preserve its delicate texture. The dried tomatoes should be drained well to avoid the pizza becoming too oily, but they should still retain their intense flavor. The arugula is added at the end to provide a fresh contrast to the other ingredients.

Preparation time:

It takes about 10 minutes to prepare the ingredients and 15 minutes to bake the pizza, so about 25 minutes in total.

Number of servings:

This recipe makes one pizza, enough for 2-3 people.

Useful knowledge:

1. Can I use a different type of ham?
Yes, you can replace the serrano ham with prosciutto or another air-dried ham, but serrano gives a unique Spanish flavor that’s hard to match.

2. How do I store leftover pizza?
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat the pizza in the oven to restore the crispy base.

4. Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of dried tomatoes?
Yes, fresh tomatoes can be used as a substitute, but the dried tomatoes have a more concentrated flavor that gives an intense sweetness to the pizza.

5. How can I make the bottom extra crispy?
For a crispier base, you can pre-bake the pizza dough for a few minutes without toppings before adding the ingredients and baking.

Serrano ham, rocket and dried tomato pizza is a fantastic combination of flavors and textures. The salty Serrano ham, fresh rocket and sweet, intense dried tomatoes create a balance that makes this pizza both refined and delicious. It’s perfect for a dinner party where you want to serve something different from the classic pizza, but still keep it simple and quick. This recipe is ideal when you want to treat yourself or your guests to a gourmet pizza with a Mediterranean flair. Serve it with a glass of wine and you have a fantastic dinner that will impress anyone.