Mystery Pizza

The “mystery” here is the crust, and it’s a clever one. Instead of yeast dough, this personal-sized pizza builds its base from ricotta cheese blended with flour, spread into a circle, and baked until set. The result is a soft, slightly chewy crust with a creamy richness you won’t find in any traditional pizza dough.

The crust bakes first for 20 minutes to firm up before the toppings go on. Tomato paste mixed with oregano and a dash of Worcestershire sauce makes a concentrated, punchy sauce that covers the small surface without making things soggy. Mushrooms and mozzarella finish it off for a second, shorter bake.

This is a single-serving pizza that comes together from six ingredients you probably already have. No rising time, no kneading, no waiting.

Chef Tips

• Mound the edges of the ricotta crust slightly higher than the center to create a rim that holds the sauce in
• Spray the baking pan well. The ricotta crust will stick if the pan isn’t properly greased
• Use tomato paste, not tomato sauce. Paste is thick enough to sit on the crust without soaking through
• The Worcestershire sauce adds a savory, umami kick to the simple tomato topping. Don’t skip it

Variations

• Add pepperoni, sliced olives, or diced bell peppers before the second bake
• Mix Italian seasoning or garlic powder into the ricotta crust for extra flavor
• Swap mozzarella for provolone or fontina for a different melt