Comfort Fest: Top 5 Pizzas Without Sauce

By: Cooking Channel Staff

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Photo by: Tara Donne

Tara Donne

These five sauce-less pizzas are loaded with soft, savory cheese and indulgent, meaty toppings. Even red sauce lovers will do a double take.

1. New Haven-Style White Clam Pizza (pictured above)

America's best pizza is a notoriously loaded subject, but the white clam pies native to New Haven, Conn., always surface at the top of the heap. Before making the pilgrimage, try preparing this legendary Neapolitan concoction at home. Fresh, briny littleneck clams come together with an intense dose of garlic, olive oil, oregano, and grated cheese atop a charcoal-colored crust. You won’t be disappointed.

There’s so much to be said for the perfect harmony between prosciutto and grated mozzarella — why interfere by adding sauce? Follow this simple white pizza recipe and the toppings will speak for themselves. Just remember to avoid using fresh mozzarella, as it can make the crust wet and soggy.

This comfort food mash-up combines the best of both worlds: golden-brown crust and buttery slices of New York strip steak. Instead of using a heavy tomato-based sauce, Bobby drizzles the pies with a light balsamic-and-honey-based glaze that complements the nutty flavor of the shaved Parmesan and acts as a dressing for the arugula.

It’s hard to imagine a more balanced blend of salty, creamy and sweet flavor than you’ll find on this sauce-less pizza. The recipe calls for a thin layer of tomato paste, which eliminates the risk of sauce-saturated crust; it also helps the prosciutto and fig adhere for an even bake and mess-free bites.

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Buffalo mozzarella, or mozzarella di bufala, is a soft cheese made from the milk of domestic water buffalo. Its mild, slightly sour taste complements the smokiness of the crumbled sausage. Garnishing the baked pie with a few torn fresh oregano leaves will help bring out even more of the hearty, rustic flavors.

More Pizza Recipes from Family & Friends:
Jeanette's Healthy Living: Easy Turkey Taco Pizza

Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

Weelicious: Pizza Balls
Food for 7 Stages of Life: No Yeast Pizza Dough
In Jennie's Kitchen: Easy, Homemade Pizza Dough
The Blue Apron Blog: Our Favorite Pizza Toppings

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