By jeffreyw - Mmm... roasted garlic white pizza, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41310628
BIANCA MEANS "WHITE" IN ITIALIAN. IT COMES AS A SURPRISE TO MANY THAT TOMATOES ARE A RELATIVELY "NEW" IMPORT TO ITALY. THAT IS, ITALIAN CUISINE EXISTED FOR A GREAT DEAL OF TIME BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TOMATO. CAN YOU IMAGINE? IT'S HARD TO THINK OF ITALIAN FOOD AS "COMPLETE" WITHOUT TOMATOES!
IF YOU HAD EATEN IN ITALY BEFORE THE 16 CENTURY, OR YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE A MEAL AUTHENTIC TO THE PERIOD, THEN FORGET THE TOMATOES! UNTHINKABLE TODAY!
WHITE SAUCE PIZZA IS INCREDIBLE! YOU CAN GO IN MANY DIRECTIONS WITH THIS. SOME LIKE ALFREDO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT "HOMEMADE" HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH WITH CRUSHED GARLIC MAKES AN AMAZING SAUCE!
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHITE SAUCE IS HOW SAVORY AND RICH IT IS. IT IS WONDERFUL WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPPINGS. SOME PERSONAL FAVORITE ADDITIONS TO A WHITE SAUCE PIZZA ARE BALSAMIC VINEGAR, OLIVES, MUSHROOMS, AND BROCCOLI (NOT NECESSARILY ALL TOGETHER).
HERE'S A SIMPLE WHITE SAUCE THAT GOES WELL WITH A LOT OF INGREDIENTS. IT IS BASICALLY ALFREDO. FEEL FREE TO ADD HERBS AND SPICES. I LIKE TO MIX IN SOME RICOTTA CHEESE AFTER THE MILK HAS BEEN MIXED IN.
RECIPE:
-3 TB BUTTER
-3 TB FLOUR
-1 1./2 CUP WHOLE MILK OR HEAVY CREAM
-1/3 CUP GRATED DRY CHEESE, PARM OR PECORINO ROMANO
-1/2 TSP PEPPER
-1 TSP SALT
-3 CLOVES OF GARLIC, CRUSHED OR MINCED OR EQUIVALENT DRIED/POWDERED
PREP:
-MELT BUTTER IN PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT
-ADD FLOUR STIR IN, COOK FOR 1 MINUTE
-LOWER HEAT TO MEDIUM-LOW, STIR QUICKLY AND SLOWLY POUR IN MILK
-WHEN INCORPORATED, ADD SEASONINGS (SALT, PEPPER, GARLIC) AND STIR
-STIR QUICKLY AND ADD IN DRY GRATED CHEESE, COOK 30 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE