Week 13 “Seafood” Winner

1 Comment | Written on April 26, 2011 at 5:00 am , by Kristina Vanni

Who needs to order in when you can make this gourmet pizza quickly and easily at home! If you love shrimp scampi, just wait until you try the same flavors in a pizza. Instead of a tomato based sauce, this pizza features a creamy and cheesy white sauce filled with artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes. It is topped with garlicky, peppered shrimp and is finished off with fresh basil and Italian parsley. Best part is, dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes! Let’s take a look at the winning dish and hear from the creative cook behind the recipe, Pat Harmon!

PEPPERED SHRIMP SCAMPI, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND ARTICHOKE PIZZA

Ingredients:

14 oz. Can Artichoke Hearts, rinsed, well-drained, and chopped
1/3 C. Sun-dried Tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped; reserve 2 T. oil, divided
1 C. Mayonnaise
1/4 t. Garlic Powder
1 C. Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
12-inch Precooked Pizza Crust
1/2 C. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 lb. Medium to Large Raw Shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 t. Cracked Black Peppercorns
2 Large Garlic Cloves, crushed
1 T. Italian Flat-leafed Parsley, chopped
1 T. Fresh Basil, chopped

Directions: Heat oven to 425º. In a medium bowl, mix together chopped artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese. Place pizza crust on a vented pizza pan or baking sheet. Brush crust with reserved oil from tomatoes. Spread artichoke mixture evenly over crust. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top. In a medium bowl, toss together shrimp, olive oil, cracked black peppercorns, and crushed garlic. Arrange over top of pizza. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crust is lightly browned and shrimp is pink. Mix parsley and basil together and sprinkle over pizza.

Number of Servings: 8 slices

Congratulations Pat! My mouth waters just thinking about your pizza, how did you come up with this winning recipe?

“I have always loved the entree, Shrimp Scampi, being a lover of shrimp prepared most ways, so I decided to make a version to top a pizza.”

What inspired you to enter the Better Recipes weekly contest?

“I have been entering various contests that Better Recipes has conducted for several years. I wasn’t giving up until I won. I am thrilled to have finally won one of them.”

That’s fantastic! I admire your perseverance and drive.

“If you love to cook and bake and create your own recipes for contests as much as I do, the bottom line is DON’T EVER GIVE UP. Sooner or later you will win a valuable prize. Enter often and various types of recipes. You can never tell what may win. I love this hobby!”

You are such an inspiration! Do you have any advice for others interested in entering our recipe contests?

“Think outside the box. This time I took a popular dinner entree and transformed it into a dish that is somewhat more casual in the form of a pizza.”

Excellent point, Pat! Thanks again for your fantastic entry and keep up the great work. All of your recipes are just wonderful!