Caramlized Onion, Bacon and Spinach Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 lb pizza dough homemade or store bought
• 7 slices bacon, 7 oz, cooked and chopped
• 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
• 8 oz baby spinach
• 1 large red onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick slices
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 large clove garlic
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 6 oz low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 oz parmesan cheese, finely shredded

Directions

1. Place a pizza stone in the oven, then heat the oven to 475 degrees. Warm 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook it only until it collapses. Move it onto several layers of paper towels, press out some of the extra moisture, and set it aside.
2. Pour another 1 Tbsp olive oil into the skillet and place it over medium heat. Add the onions, sprinkle them lightly with salt, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the sugar and continue cooking until the onions start to caramelize, about 5 – 10 minutes more, adding a few tbsp water when needed so they do not dry out or scorch. Mix in the balsamic vinegar, cook for 1 minute more, and set the onions aside.
3. On a lightly floured surface, stretch the pizza dough into a 12-inch round, keeping a thicker border at the edge for the crust. Brush the top with the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, then leave it to rest for 10 minutes.
4. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and garlic, and cook for 1 minute, stirring the whole time. Whisk slowly as you pour the milk into the flour mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste, bring the sauce just to a boil while stirring constantly, then take it off the heat.
5. Spread the white sauce evenly over the pizza dough, leaving the crust bare. Scatter on half of the mozzarella and half of the parmesan, then layer on the spinach, bacon, and onions. Finish with the remaining half of the mozzarella and parmesan. With a pizza peel, slide the pizza onto the hot pizza stone and bake for 8 – 12 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden.