Apricot And Prosciutto Thin-Crust Pizza

1. 1

   Combine 1/2 cup warm water and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached; let stand 5 minutes or until bubbly. Add 4 teaspoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt to yeast mixture. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sprinkle flour over yeast mixture; mix 2 minutes or until a soft dough forms. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; cover surface of dough with plastic wrap lightly coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate 24 hours.

2. 2

   Remove dough from refrigerator. Let stand, covered, 1 hour or until dough comes to room temperature. Punch dough down. Roll dough out to a thin 12-inch circle on a lightly floured baking sheet, without raised edges, sprinkled with cornmeal. Crimp edges to form a 1/2-inch border. Pierce dough several times with a fork. Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap.

3. 3

   Position an oven rack in the lowest setting. Place a pizza stone on lowest rack. Preheat oven to 550u00b0. Preheat the pizza stone for 30 minutes before baking dough.

4. 4

   Combine 1 tablespoon oil, thyme, pepper, apricots, shallots, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss gently. Remove plastic wrap from dough; slide dough onto preheated pizza stone, using a spatula as a guide. Bake at 550u00b0 for 4 minutes. Top dough with goat cheese and apricot mixture. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cut pizza into 10 slices; sprinkle with parsley and chives. Toss arugula with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; arrange arugula over apricot mixture. Top with prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Cut into 10 wedges.

5. 5

   Wine note: When a dish has an ingredient that is also a signature flavor in a wine, go with the match. For this pizza, it's viognier, a full-bodied, aromatic white that often announces itself with apricot aromas. Try the Bridlewood 2008 Reserve Viognier from California's central coast ($24). Under its stone fruit flavors lurk layers of citrus-tangerine and tangy grapefruit-with an elegant honeysuckle wrap. Rich enough to love the prosciutto on the pizza, the wine has lovely acidity that works well with goat cheese, too. -Sara Schneider

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.