West Coast Roast Recipe

Prepare dough and garlic oil

Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C) with a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet inside. If using store-bought dough, bring to room temperature for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic (1 tsp) and a pinch of salt; set aside to brush on crust after baking.

After pizza bakes and rests 1–2 minutes, brush the warm crust edge lightly with the prepared garlic oil so it soaks into the crust without making it soggy. Slice the avocado in half, remove pit, thinly slice and fan on top of the finished pizza immediately before serving.

Roast the garlic

Slice tops off the garlic bulbs to expose cloves, place on a small piece of foil, drizzle with 2 tbs olive oil, wrap and roast in the preheated oven (475°F) for 20–25 minutes until soft and caramelized. Remove and cool slightly.

Make the puree

Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from the bulbs into a small bowl. Add 3 tbs Greek yogurt or ricotta, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Mash with a fork or blend briefly until smooth and spreadable. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Spread a thin, even layer (about 3–4 tbs) of the roasted garlic puree over the stretched pizza dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border for the crust.

Season and cook chicken

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, toss with 1 tbs olive oil, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper until evenly coated. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken in a single layer for 4–6 minutes, stirring as needed, until cooked through and slightly browned. Remove from heat and let rest briefly.

Distribute the cooked spiced chicken evenly over the garlic puree layer on the pizza.

Assemble toppings

Scatter 1 cup baby spinach evenly over the chicken, then add 1/4 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes and sliced jalapeño across the pizza. Top with 6 oz shredded or sliced fresh mozzarella. Sprinkle 1 tsp dried oregano and 1/2 tsp red chili flakes over the cheese for heat and herb flavor.

Bake pizza

Transfer the assembled pizza to the preheated stone or sheet (use a peel or the inverted baking sheet). Bake at 475°F (245°C) for 8–12 minutes, rotating once, until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

Remove pizza from oven and let rest 1–2 minutes. Brush the crust with the reserved garlic oil mixture. Top the pizza with the sliced avocado and serve immediately.