They say the heart of a home lies in the kitchen. And for many of us, the heart of the kitchen is our Mom. The one who conjures warmth and love with every sizzle and simmer. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the women who have nourished us, not just with food, but with the spirit of togetherness that a kitchen embodies.
This year, we weave a tale around a dish that whispers of autumn’s bounty – a Rustic Sourdough Pizza with Figs, Truffle Honey, Gorgonzola, and Parma Ham.
The first bite will transport you to a sun-drenched Italian market. The air, thick with the aroma of fresh cheeses and cured meats. A small stall offering a revelation: a slice of warm bread adorned with strong blue cheese, truffle honey and a drizzle of pure extra virgin olive oil. Each mouthful a symphony of sweet and savoury. A testament to the simple brilliance of marrying contrasting flavours.
This fantasy inspires this beautiful pizza recipe. Figs, at the peak of their season, add a touch of earthy sweetness. Gorgonzola, a sharp blue cheese, has a delightful tang. Parma ham lends a touch of salty luxury, and the truffle honey a contrasting sweetness. The Willow Creek Olive Estate Privé—oh, this extra virgin olive oil—wraps its magic throughout, infusing everything with an earthy aroma.
The base is a rustic sourdough, its slight tang complementing the other elements. But don’t worry about the perfect dough if time is tight. Ask your favourite local pizza place—the one that fills your home with the promise of a delicious weekend—if they sell pre-baked bases. Freeze them, and you’ll have a shortcut to homemade magic whenever the craving strikes.
This recipe, like so many others, is a tribute to the spirit of our mothers. The women who taught us the joy of creation in the kitchen, the comfort of familiar flavours, and the importance of sharing a meal with loved ones. They instilled in us a love for good food, the confidence to experiment, and most importantly, the knowledge that the kitchen is a place of love, laughter, and cherished memories.
Rustic Sourdough Pizza with Figs, Truffle Honey, Gorgonzola, and Parma Ham
(Makes 4 pizzas)
Ingredients:
- 4 Sourdough pizza bases with a basic fresh tomato sauce thinly spread
- 2 balls of Fior de Latte shredded mozzarella
- 250g of good-quality, roughly crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- 8–10 fresh purple figs, sliced
- Handful of toasted pine nuts
- 12 slices of good quality parma ham
- Truffle-flavoured honey
- Willow Creek Olive Estate Privé
- Garnish with fresh basil or rocket
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to the highest setting (ideally around 220 degrees celcius)
- If using a pre-baked base, place it on a baking sheet. If using homemade dough, stretch it out to a thin round on a lightly floured surface. Transfer it to a baking sheet or pizza stone.
- Drizzle the base with a generous amount of good quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Scatter the crumbled Gorgonzola cheese evenly over the base.
- Arrange the thinly sliced figs on top of the cheese.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and immediately top with the thinly sliced Parma ham.
- Drizzle with truffle honey to your liking. A little goes a long way with this luxurious ingredient!
- Finish with a drizzle of Willow Creek Olive Estate Privé and a crack of fresh black pepper.
- For an extra touch of green, you can scatter some fresh arugula on top just before serving.
Recipe Note: While a sourdough base is recommended, feel free to use your favourite pre-baked pizza dough for ease. Many local pizza places offer these for purchase, making this dish a breeze to prepare.
A Mother’s Day Gift Fit for a Queen
This Mother’s Day, why not treat the woman who holds your heart to a taste of pure luxury? Willow Creek is giving away a bottle of their most prestigious extra virgin olive oil – Willow Creek Olive Estate Privé – the very essence of their sublime terroir, crafted from the finest 0.1% of their estate’s harvest.
Privé by Willow Creek Olive Estate is created through precision farming, the finest technology, and their Master Blender’s expertise, all of which culminate in extra virgin olive oil of premium character. The groves that bear the fruit of the Privé are rooted in the lime-rich soils of the Nuy Valley. Each Privé bottle is truly unique and created with handblown recycled glass.
