Savory Fontina Cheese and Mushroom Pizza

Ingredients

Pizza dough

1 batch (store-bought or homemade)

Olive oil

2 tablespoons

Garlic

2 cloves, minced

Mushrooms

2 cups, sliced (cremini or button mushrooms work well)

Fontina cheese

2 cups, shredded

Fresh thyme

1 tablespoon, chopped

Salt

to taste

Pepper

to taste

Fresh basil

1/4 cup, chopped for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness, ensuring it's slightly larger than the size of your baking sheet or pizza stone.
3. Transfer the rolled-out dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or onto the hot pizza stone.
4. In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender and any released liquid has evaporated, about 5-7 minutes.
6. Season the mushroom mixture with salt, pepper, and fresh thyme. Stir well to combine.
7. Spread the shredded fontina cheese evenly over the surface of the pizza dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
8. Top the cheese with the sautéed mushroom mixture, distributing it evenly across the pizza.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10. Once baked, remove the pizza from the oven and sprinkle with freshly chopped basil.
11. Slice into wedges and serve hot, enjoying the blend of flavors and textures.