Learn how to host a wine and pizza party at home with these two simple pizza recipes. One features salami, jalapeno & honey and the other is a white pizza topped with goat cheese & arugula salad.
When I was a little girl, and we were living in Champaign, Illinois, we had this family tradition every Friday night where my dad would take my brother and I to the YMCA for a night of swimming and then we would come home, order a cheese pizza from Dominos and turn on the TV to watch TGIF.
Does anyone remember TGIF? I think it was on ABC and it was the lineup of shows that came on every Friday night around 7pm or 8pm. It was always a treat for us, because our parents didn’t let us watch much TV, but we could always count on Friday nights and the lineup of fun TV shows. The programing changed over the years, but I definitely remember Full House, Perfect Strangers, Dinosaurs, and Family Matters (with Steve Urkel… “Did I do that?”).
Please tell me you guys remember this!!!???
I think it’s time to bring back Friday pizza nights. In reality, I’m a true homebody at heart. Also, I’m an old lady at heart. On Fridays, you’ll normally find me asleep by 9:00 pm. Do you ever notice sometimes that the harder you try to stay awake, the more your eyes seem to shut? What are your tips for staying awake on the weekends? Maybe I need to go swimming again… Or, come to think of it, I’ll bet ya my dad used to take us to the Y on Fridays just so my brother and I would conk out early on Friday night… Maybe, that’s why I can’t stay awake on Fridays… It’s just ingrained in my brain. Keeping tradition alive with my 9pm Friday night bedtime.
As far as the pizza tradition goes, let’s give it a bit of an upgrade. No more “plain cheese” from Dominos.
Salami, Jalapeno & Honey Pizza
This Salami, Jalapeno & Honey Pizza was perfect paired with a bottle of Pinot Noir. I first had this pizza at the brew pub near our beach house, the Pelican. They’ve since taken it off the menu, so I definitely had to recreate it at home!
White Pizza with Arugula & Goat Cheese
Then there’s the White Pizza with Arugula & Goat Cheese which is adapted from a recipe by the fabulous Ina Garten – Melty mozzarella, crumbles of goat cheese, and topped with a tangy arugula salad that’s been dressed in a bit of lemon and olive oil… This one was amazing paired with a Sancerre from the Loire Valley.
I’m a definite believer that Friday night cooking should be simple and fun. That’s why I started these pizzas using store-bought pizza crust. However, if you have a crust recipe that you love, feel free to use that here too. And, I wanted to make each pizza distinctly different. The salami pizza is a bit spicy, from the jalapenos, but it finishes with a sweetness from a drizzle of honey. Rick loved this one. I on the other hand, preferred the white pizza. I loved the peppery bite from the arugula salad that gets piled on the top after it comes out of the oven and it was amazing with the tangy goat cheese on top.
Let’s not forget the wine. Especially on Friday. Friday is perfect for a wine and pizza party!
Pizza & Wine Pairings
I paired these pizzas with two bottles that I recently received from 90+ Cellars. I’ve talked about their brand before (here and here), and their unique story of how they seek out spectacular wines from notable wineries that may have a bit extra for sale. The salami, jalapeno and honey pizza was amazing with their Lot 75 Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley – Its acidity paired well with the cheesy pizza, but it was light-bodied enough to not compete with all the spicy flavors going on. And, their Lot 126 Sancerre from the Loire Valley was perfect paired with the white pizza topped with arugula. It’s a dry white wine with hints of citrus and limestone, and it’s so perfect with the creamy goat cheese and the lemony arugula.
I think that wine and pizza party Fridays should definitely be a regular occurrence. Just add a good movie, sink into the sofa and enjoy. Cheers!
Full Recipe
Wine & Pizza Party
Learn how to host a wine and pizza party at home with these two simple pizza recipes. One features salami, jalapeno & honey and the other is a white pizza topped with goat cheese & arugula salad.
Ingredients
Salami, Jalapeno & Honey Pizza
- 1 lb. store-bought pizza dough
- Olive oil (for brushing edges and pizza pan)
- 1-14 oz. jar pizza sauce
- 6 oz. mozzarella cheese (shredded (about 1 1/2 cups))
- 10 slices salami
- 1/4 red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1 small jalapeño (seeded and thinly sliced)
- Olive oil (for brushing edges and pizza pan)
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- Parchment Paper (optional)
White Pizza with Arugula & Goat Cheese
- 1 lb. store-bought pizza dough
- Olive oil (for drizzling on pizza)
- 6 oz. mozzarella cheese (shredded (about 1 1/2 cups))
- 4 oz. goat cheese (crumbled)
- For the vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup good olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice ((juice of 1 lemon))
- Salt and pepper
- 5 oz. baby arugula
- Lemon slices (for garnish)
- Parchment Paper (optional)
Instructions
Salami, Jalapeno & Honey Pizza
- Heat oven to 500° F.
- Let pizza dough come to room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out onto a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Place dough onto parchment lined, or lightly oiled, baking sheet.
- Spoon pizza sauce onto dough (you will have extra) leaving 1 inch of crust exposed around the edges. Top with mozzarella, salami, onion and jalapenos.
- Brush edges of pizza with olive oil and place in oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the crust is crisp and the cheese begins to brown. Remove from oven, drizzle with honey and serve.
White Pizza with Arugula & Goat Cheese
- Heat oven to 500° F.
- Let pizza dough come to room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out onto a lightly floured surface to approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Place dough onto parchment lined, or lightly oiled, baking sheet.
- Drizzle pizza crust with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Leaving 1 inch of crust exposed around the edges, top with mozzarella and goat cheese.
- Place pizza in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the crust is crisp and the cheese begins to brown.
- Meanwhile, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil and lemon juice. Toss with arugula and season with salt and pepper. Top cooked pizza with arugula salad, and serve.
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