Grilled Leek Flatbread

You don’t even have to sacrifice pizza to give your guests a taste of something different. This recipe for roasted red pepper and leek flatbreads delivers a pie that’s crispy, bubbly, and loaded with fresh flavors.

Better yet, you can make all the components of the flatbreads a day ahead of time. You can steam the leeks, whip up the smoky-sweet romesco sauce, and even pre-portion the flatbread dough. When the day of the party arrives, fire up the grill and assemble the pizzas.

Ingredients

• 1 slice ciabatta, about ½-inch thick
• ¼ lb almonds
• 12 oz roasted red peppers
• 1 ½ Tbsp sherry
• ¼ cup olive oil, plus additional for brushing
• 8 leeks, trimmed of tough green stalks
• 1 lb pizza dough
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup ricotta
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice and chopped parsley, for garnishing

Instructions

1. Make the romesco sauce. Soak the ciabatta in ½ cup water. In a dry pan over medium-low heat, toast the almonds, stirring occasionally, until golden and aromatic (3 to 5 minutes). In a blender or food processor, add the almonds and ½ cup of water. Puree until smooth. Add the soaked bread, roasted red peppers, and sherry, blending until smooth. While processing, drizzle in the ¼ cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Steam the leeks. In a large pot with a steamer basket, steam the leeks until you can easily pierce them with a paring knife, about 6 minutes. Allow to cool and slice them in half lengthwise. Coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

3. Grill the flatbread. Preheat your grill to direct high heat or heat coals until white and hot. Split the dough into eight balls and roll each ball into an oval about ¼-inch thick. Brush each side of the dough ovals lightly with olive oil. Grill until the edges brown and the top bubbles, about 2 minutes. Flip and grill until toasted, 2 minutes more.

4. Grill the leeks. Grill the leeks over direct heat until dark grill marks appear on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Chop the leeks into bite-sized pieces.

5. Assemble the flatbreads. On the bubbly side of each flatbread, spread 2 Tbsp romesco sauce, leaving a ¼-inch border. Top with grilled leeks, small dollops of ricotta, freshly squeezed lemon juice, parsley, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if desired.

Makes 8 flatbreads

Male Fertility Benefits

This grilled leek flatbread recipe is packed with ingredients that can support male fertility.

• Almonds are rich in vitamin E, which has been linked to improved sperm health and motility.
• Olive oil is a source of healthy fats, which are vital for hormone production, including testosterone.
• Leeks and garlic both contain compounds that have been shown to support reproductive health, including boosting circulation and increasing antioxidant levels.