Lamb and Harissa make a spicy base for this fresh spinach topped pizza in this Harissa Lamb and Spinach Pizza. Post may contain affiliate links.
Harissa Lamb and Spinach Pizza
I know. More harissa! What can I say? I love it! This is my third harissa post this week! I began with Harissa Roasted Squash, then Harissa Chicken with Olives, and now this fantastic Harissa Lamb and Spinach Pizza. If nothing else, it shows you that you can use Harissa with just about everything!
This recipe came from Donna Hay’s Magazine Issue #61, February/March 2012, the print version. I know I’ve said it before, but in case you missed it. I urge you to get Donna Hay’s donna hay magazine for your iPad. I have a few cooking magazine apps on my iPad and Donna Hay’s is the best hands down. The magazine is gorgeous, there is a recipe index with a photo of each recipe and there are even little videos peppered throughout the magazine. Love it!
Click here to pin this Harissa Lamb and Spinach Pizza now!
There is so much I love about this pizza. Before I get to the Donna Hay part of it, I have to mention the pizza dough. I am now the proud parent of a sourdough starter named Ethel. Ethel is feisty and bubbly. When it comes time to feed her, I have some of her that needs to be discarded. Boo. So, I searched around and found Sourdough Crumpets, and while I was finding that, I also found Sourdough Pizza Crust. I made two batches of the dough in my bread machine and stored them in the freezer. I pulled out defrosted one of the bags of dough for this pizza. OMG. It was the best pizza crust ever! Light and crispy. I show you the photo above (before being topped with spinach) so that you can see the big pizza crust bubbles! I will do a whole post on the pizza dough, so for right now, let’s focus back on this particular pizza. To help get this gorgeous crust, I use a pizza peel, parchment paper and a pizza stone.
Again, Donna Hay never ceases to amaze me with her fresh, simple flavors. The lamb is crisp and spicy. The provolone cheese is creamy and rich (and actually there was supposed to be 2 cups of mozzarella cheese on this and I totally forgot it – and it was till fantastic!). The spinach topping is almost like a deconstructed spinach pesto. The tartness from the lemons and the earthiness from the spinach and the pine nuts pairing beautifully with the pizza! This was seriously amazing and I will be making it again and again!
Harissa Lamb and Spinach Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste I only used one, but two would have been fine
- pizza dough for one large or 4 small
- 2 cups mozzerella grated
- 1 cup provolone shaved
- flat-leaf parsley
- lemon zest
- 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. (I always use 500 and watch the pizza carefully).
- Mix the lamb with the harissa and salt and pepper. Heat a large non-stick skillet over high heat and add the lamb. Break up the clumps with a wooden spoon and cook until browned - about 5 minutes.
- Divide the 2 cups of mozzarella, lamb, and provolone between the pizzas. Cook for 15 minutes (start checking at 10, especially if doing the higher 500).
- Combine the parsley, lemon zest, toasted pine nuts, baby spinach leaves and the olive oil and lemon juice. Notice there are no measurements here other than the lemon juice and olive oil. I just used about a 3/4 bag of spinach and about 1/2 cup of parsley leaves. Just use your own judgement, you can't mess it up! Scatter on top of the pizza.
Nutrition
Lamb is one of my favorites and this will be a fantastic pizza! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
I like Harissa too, Pam – it’s such a tasty blend of spices. Love how you have used it in this gorgeous Lamb and Spinach Pizza – it really does look & sound perfect! Thank you for sharing with us at Hearth and Soul. Sharing your delicious daiquiri on our Hearth and Soul Facebook page later today 🙂
I have not tried Harissa lamb..sounds good though! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on G+! Have a great week!
Kim
There’s a lot to love here. Like, I love harissa, the Donna Hay magazine app, and fresh spinach on a pizza. This looks great!
Love lamb and harissa, but have never had on pizza. Will have to try this!! Thanks.
This looks super delicious and inviting too 😀
I am quite happy to see harissa used again. We love it! This pizza would be a huge hit in my house.
I have never tried harissa but I love all things middle eastern so will give this a try. Might try it with Flat Out wraps (I use those for pizza all of the time, and not the Flat Outs that are meant for pizza, I use their other ones) Obviously I would adjust the cooking time/temp too…………..have to try this!
LOVE lamb! looks like an excellent dinner!
This looks delicious! Of course, you had me as soon as I saw spinach. I’ve not worked with harrisa before. I’ll have to look for it. I had heard that it is hot-spicy.
I’m not surprised this post has so many comments – that pizza looks scrumptious. I can’t have the harissa paste but I will definitely give tis a go and I’m busting to try the sourdough pizza dough.
Pam, ooh thanks for the sourdough pizza crust link–I haven’t named my starter, it mostly lives in the fridge and I bring it out ,feed it, bake bread, and toss it back in the fridge, sulking that it never gets to do anything else. Clearly my starter is a teenager.
This pizza looks delicious and I’ve pinned to my Friday Night Pizza Night board.
Thanks!
Well, yum! This looks really good. Of course, I have a bit of an addiction to spinach.
I love that you named your starter, by the way.
Thank you for sharing with See Ya in the Gumbo this week!
Hi Pam,
I just love lamb and have never had it with Pizza, what a great idea, can’t wait to try this! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
This was my first time having it with pizza too!
And another. This sounds so interesting!!!
I have never tried making or cooking with harissa but this recipe has now peaked my curiosity! Thanks for the inspiration. I need to study up on my middle eastern cuisine 🙂
I use it the same way that I would use chile paste with garlic.
Excellent!
I would never thought to use lamb on pizza. I love lamb though and we eat it frequently. Very creative.
It really was amazing!
I don’t even know what harissa is, but you make it look good anyway! And welcome to Sidewalk Shoes Land, little Ethel! Live long and bubble!
You always have the best recipes-you make everything look appetizing.
Thank you!
It looks delicious – great flavors & textures on this pizza.
Thanks Pam! It was delicious!
I’ve loved harissa week!! It’s been super fun. And way to see it out with a bang….pizza Fridays are always a good thing!
I’m probably going to have to do a Harissa month! I love it!
there’s been a flurry of harissa activity over here lately and i like it! clever pizza, pam. 🙂