Sun-dried tomato pizza

Ingredients

Basil pesto
3 cups chopped fresh basil
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/8 cup Brazil nuts
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. chili powder

Sun-dried tomato pizza
1 store-bought or homemade 12-inch pizza crust
4 oz. mozzarella
2 tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes
2 tbsp. basil pesto (see recipe)
1/4 cup roasted pine nuts (see tip)
Grated Pecorino Romano, for garnish

Directions

For pesto: Place basil in a blender. Pour in about 1 tbsp. of the oil and blend basil into a paste. Gradually add pine nuts, Brazil nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, chili powder and remaining oil. Continue to blend until smooth. Makes about 1 1/2 cups. Leftovers can be refrigerated.

For pizza: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over stretched dough/homemade pizza crust and then add sun-dried tomatoes. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Slice into 8 pieces and apply pesto in a dotted pattern over finished pizza. Add roasted pine nuts evenly over pesto. Grate Pecorino Romano over entire pizza.

Chef's tip: Roasting gives pine nuts a toasty flavor, browns them and makes them firmer. It's easiest to do in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Shake the skillet frequently to ensure even browning—pine nuts are small and full of rich oil, and will burn quickly if you don't watch carefully. When the nuts are fragrant and browned, take the pan off the heat. Transfer the nuts to a plate to cool.

Serves 8