Artichoke hearts are one of my favorite pizza toppings. I was intrigued when during a recent window shopping visit to Williams-Sonoma, I discovered Artichoke & Garlic Pizza Sauce. I couldn’t justify $13 a jar for pizza sauce, so the past three Saturdays nights – ?known around here as Pizza Night – I’ve experimented with a recipe of my own.

Tonight’s experiment was a keeper.

Artichoke Pizza Sauce

  • 1 can artichoke heart quarters (not marinated)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ? cup chopped red onion
  • 1/8 to ? cup olive oil, depending on the consistency you want
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ? teaspoon pepper
  • ? cup finely grated Gruyere cheese (or Parmesan)

Add all of the ingredients in the blender. Pulse until the artichoke pieces are quite small, but not liquefied.

artichoke-pizza-sauce

Spread on homemade pizza dough.

artichoke-sauce

Top as desired. I topped mine with ricotta, mozzarella, black olives, pine nuts, and a few bacon bits.

pizza

The leftover sauce is excellent on crackers or toast!