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As you may or may not know, I LOVE pizza. It’s the perfect food to me, and in all honesty, we eat it AT LEAST once a week. It keeps our bellies happy and our home smelling GOOD. There is just something about a big homemade pizza baking in the oven that makes a house a home 😉
This is one of those crazy pizza combos I’ve been thinking on for a while. It’s so simple – skillet “grilled” ham and pineapple, grated mozzarella, and a fresh kale pesto – and so TOTALLY delicious. I’m bummed I didn’t make this sooner.
Pineapple, Ham, and Kale Pesto… we have some catching up to do!
Go on, catch up with them too! I think you’re going to love those colorful guys together just as much as we do 🙂
Ham and Pineapple Kale Pesto Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 Pizza Dough, rolled out into a large circle or square
- 1 small bunch Tuscan Kale, ribs and large stems removed
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 1 tiny clove garlic, smashed
- Zest and juice of one small lemon
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 rings canned pineapple, patted dry with paper towels
- 6 sliced black forest ham or Canadian bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees (F). Roll dough out on a large baking sheet or pizza stone; set aside.
- Bring a salted pot of water to boil. While the water is boiling, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl. Once water is boiling add kale, stir, and cook for 30 seconds. Quickly remove with a slotted spoon or tongues and transfer kale into the ice bath to stop any further cooking. Once kale has cooled off (just a minute or two) transfer the kale to a paper towel lined plate and pat dry.
- *While your kale is drying off, you can "grill" your pineapple and ham. Simply heat a large skillet over medium-high and sear each side of the pineapples for 2-3 minutes - when they begin to char it's time to flip - on each side, and the ham for about 1 -2 minutes on each side. You can add a little oil to the pan if it really starts to smoke, but I didn't find it necessary.
- Place kale in a blender or food processor along with the toasted pine nuts, garlic, lemon zest, and juice. Pulse until well blended, then slowly add the olive oil in a light steady stream. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread desired amount of kale pesto over pizza dough (I used the whole amount, but feel free to use half or even a third), then top with mozzarella, ham, and pineapple.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden. Carefully remove from oven, slice, and serve at once.
Tried it and loved it?Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @Bakerbynature and by using the hashtag #BakerByNature
We eat pizza all the time in our house, too 🙂 My in-laws own a pizzeria so that contributes to the many pizza nights!! Homemade is always the best and this looks awesome!
it’s like you looked inside my brain and knew I’ve been craving a healthier Hawaiian-style pizza! loving this!
Girl, you are my pizza soul sister. I’m loving what you’re coming up with lately! What a great spin on classic ham and pineapple!
Thank you so much, girl! Your comments always make me smile 🙂
Love, love, love the addition of the kale pesto! This looks awesome!
I love the idea of kale pesto, and I LOVE that you did the pineapples in little circles! I’ve only seen pineapple on pizza as those chunks, but the circles are so much cuter : )
DUDE, I am all over this!!!!! Can’t wait to try!
I saw this on my IG feed and immediately had to come tell you THIS sounds amazing! I love the ham and pineapple…lots but the kale.. oh the kale! Super fun pizza Ashley!
kale pest0 that is 😉 so totally genius!
Thanks, Laurie! Kale pesto is new bestie when it comes to sneaking greens in my guys belly 😉
Pineapple pizzas are so good! Love the cheese/sweet combo! 🙂
I don’t normally like pineapple on my pizza, but I may have to make an exception here: this looks AWESOME!!
I’m normally not the biggest fan either! But something about “grilling” it first really made it pop for me 😉
So my hubs fav pizza is ham and pineapple and I am ALWAYS trying to get greenery into him, or “rabbit food” as he calls it! This looks like the perfect solution girl! Pinned!
Yup! I know all too well the “sneaking of the greens”. This pizza should do the trick 😉 Thanks girl!