BREAKFAST?

ATING leftover pizza for breakfast is a time-honoured tradition. Whether you prefer it cold and a little soggy, straight from the box, or heated in a pan or broiler until the cheese bubbles, pizza is a near-perfect antidote to whatever kept you up way too late the night before.

Although making home- made pizza for breakfast is not something you would undertake on a weekday, it is just right for

Ea weekend brunch. You do not need to make your own pizza dough (unless you want to). Just remember to defrost any frozen dough the night before so it is ready to go in the morning.

Serve your pizza for breakfast, brunch or a dinner.

It is even fancy enough to offer guests – something best not attempted with takeaway leftovers of any variety. – The New York Times

Yes, please, writes Melissa Clarke. Homemade pizza is just right for a weekend brunch and it is fancy enough for guests, too

Heat the oven to 230 degrees, and arrange racks in top and bottom thirds.

Place a pizza stone on the top rack. Arrange bacon in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake on bottom rack until browned and crisp, 7 to 11 minutes. Using tongs, transfer bacon to paper-towel-lined plate to cool, then slice into bite-size pieces.

Raise oven temperature to 260 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, garlic and salt.

On a rimmed baking sheet, stretch dough into a 28cm circle, about 0.5cm thick.

Sprinkle with mozzarella, leaving a slim border around edges.

Scatter bacon on top, add red pepper flakes, then dollop tablespoons of ricotta mixture all over pie.

Arrange basil leaves on top, then sprinkle with pecorino.

Place baking sheet on top of pizza stone, and bake for 4 minutes. (Edges of dough should be cooked but not browned.)

Remove from oven. Use the back of a large spoon to make 2 divots on either side of pizza, and crack eggs into the divots.

Return to oven and bake until egg whites are almost but not quite set, about 4 minutes.

Set oven to grill and grill until crust is charred and eggs are cooked but yolks are runny, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

(If your grill is in a separate drawer, transfer baking sheet to your grill drawer and grill to finish cooking the eggs and brown the crust.)

Slide pizza on to a cutting board. Top with more basil, flaky sea salt and more red pepper flakes. Drizzle with oil and serve immediately. Serves 2 to 4.