Homemade Spinach Pizza with White Sauce (Florentine Pizza)

Stop everything you’re doing because this homemade spinach pizza with white sauce (aka an authentic Florentine pizza) deserves a moment of silence. It’s an Italian-inspired pizza completely from scratch, with a thin, crisp crust and an irresistible white sauce.

How to Make a Homemade Spinach Pizza

You’ll start by preparing the homemade pizza dough using instant yeast and a few other simple ingredients:

• Prepare the yeast mixture. Use the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook to combine the instant yeast and warm water.
• Prepare the flour mixture. Add the bread flour and salt to a separate bowl and mix to combine.
• Add the olive oil. Add the olive oil to the bowl of a stand mixer.
• Add the flour mixture. While the mixer is running, slowly add in the prepared flour mixture.
• Beat. Beat on low speed for 5 minutes.
• Grease a bowl. Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil.
• Transfer the dough. Transfer the pizza dough into the greased bowl.
• Rise. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm location for 1 hour (or until the dough has doubled in size).
• Prep the pizza stone. Place a pizza stone on a rack in the lower third of your oven.
• Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 500℉ for at least 30 minutes (but 60 minutes is preferred).
• Prep the dough for baking. Punch the pizza dough and transfer onto a lightly floured surface.
• Roll the dough. Roll the pizza dough into a circle that’s about ¼ inch thick.
• Prep the pizza peel. Lightly sprinkle your pizza peel with cornmeal.
• Transfer to peel. Transfer the pizza dough to the pizza peel.
• Add the sauce. Top with the homemade white sauce (see below for details on how to make).
• Bake. Slide the pizza onto the baking stone in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
• Add the spinach and cheese. Remove the pizza from the oven and top with fresh spinach and shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Add the eggs. Crack the four eggs onto the pizza.
• Bake. Return the pizza to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes (or until the eggs are mostly set).
• Serve. Remove the pizza from the oven, cut into 4 pieces, and serve warm.

How to Make Homemade White Sauce for Pizza

The best time to prepare the homemade white sauce for your pizza is while you’re waiting for the pizza dough to rise:

• Prepare the cooking skillet. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the flour. Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add the milk. Whisk in the whole milk.
• Add the remaining ingredients. Add the salt and garlic powder and mix to combine.
• Simmer. Simmer, whisking frequently, until the sauce has thickened to your liking.
• Set aside. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside until ready to add to your pizza.

3 Tips for Making Awesome Homemade Pizzas

Making homemade pizzas is a great way to enjoy a yummy pizza in a healthier way. With that in mind, here are 3 tips for making the best homemade pizzas:

• Make sure the oven is HOT. Make sure that you’re using a pizza stone and then crank the heat on your oven up to 500℉ for at least 30 minutes – but 60 is better.
• Pizza peels are a life saver. The best way to get your homemade pizza onto a piping hot pizza stone is to use a pizza peel. A little bit of cornmeal sprinkled over top of the pizza peel and your pizza will slide off onto the stone effortlessly.
• Go easy on the sauce. Go easy when spreading your pizza sauce – a thin layer is more than enough or else you might end up with a soggy pizza.

(Also try: Homemade Hawaiian Pineapple Pizza)

Print