It’s a truth universally acknowledged that pizza is one of the most delicious foods in the world—full stop. And now Oprah has discovered the secret sauce to one the best pizza recipes ever, thanks to French chef Philippe Chevalier, who famously created Oprah’s favorite pasta recipe—which eschews butter for a more surprising ingredient.

This time, Chef Chevalier made Oprah a pizza that was so delicious, she asked him to make the exact same recipe the next night. “He made me a pizza that was, I have to say, the best pizza that I ever remember having,” Oprah says.

Now, Oprah knows the idea of a “best” pizza can be divisive, so she’s clarifying that she asked specifically for a spinach pizza. “There are all kinds of pizzas in the world—I know everybody’s gonna debate what’s the best pizza—I’m just talking about what was for me,” she explains.

The secret is, literally, in the sauce. Rather than starting with a tomato-based layer, this pizza recipe uses what Chef Chevalier calls Florentine sauce. Basically, it begins with a standard béchamel (a creamy white sauce that’s the base for many French dishes). Then, Chef Chevalier blends in a mixture of sautéed spinach, herbs, and garlic.

“I just wanted to share the recipe with those of you who actually know how to do this,” Oprah says. “Merci to you,” she adds to Chef Chevalier. “Merci, and have mercy.”

Watch Oprah talk about the recipe with Chef Chevalier here, and then find the full recipe for her favorite spinach pizza below.

preview for Try Oprah’s Favorite Pizza Recipe

Florentine Spinach Pizza

Ingredients

For the dough

  • 290 grams warm water (about 1 1/4 cups)
  • 1 pinch granulated sugar
  • 1/2 Tbsp. dry yeast
  • 400 grams 00 flour (about 3 1/4 cups; try something like King Arthur Neapolitan-style flour)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

For the sauce

  • 700 ml whole milk (about 3 cups)
  • 40 grams unsalted butter (about 3 Tbsp.)
  • 40 grams all-purpose flour (about 5 Tbsp.)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Grated nutmeg
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 Tbsp. Italian parsley, chopped
  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 1/2 bunches fresh spinach

For the pizza toppings

  • 85 grams fresh goat cheese (about 1/4 cup or 3 ounces)
  • 85 grams Gruyère cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup or 3 ounces)
  • 1 handful fresh baby spinach
  • 2 Spanish onions or sweet white onions, thinly sliced
  • Pine nuts
  • 1/2 tsp. chili flakes or crushed red pepper
  • Lemon vinaigrette

Directions

For the dough

  1. In a bowl, whisk together warm water, sugar, and yeast. Set aside and let sit for 15 minutes.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix 00 flour with sea salt. Add water mixture to flour and combine until a doughy texture forms.
  3. Let dough rise at room temperature, covered, for 30 minutes. Knead dough into a smooth ball and place in a bowl. Cover and let sit in the fridge for 24 hours.
  4. Alternatively, you can skip these steps and buy premade pizza dough.

For the sauce

  1. In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Set aside.
  2. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and whisk until combined.
  3. While continuing to whisk, slowly pour the milk into the pan, doing so in three portions. Continue cooking on low heat for 10 minutes until a creamy béchamel sauce forms. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.
  4. In a sauté pan over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add the garlic, parsley, thyme, and spinach. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the spinach begins to wilt, about two minutes.
  5. In a food processor, combine the béchamel sauce and sautéed spinach. Mix until a smooth, creamy texture forms. Let cool.

To assemble the pizza

  1. Preheat oven to 500°F. You can also use a pizza oven—we recommend Oprah’s choice, the Solo Stove Pi oven, which was featured in her 2022 Favorite Things.
  2. Cut the dough in half. Roll each portion into circles about 18 to 20 inches in diameter and 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
  3. Place dough on a pizza stone. Spread sauce on dough, then add goat cheese and Gruyère. Top with enough spinach to cover the entire pizza.
  4. Cook pizza until the dough is crispy.
  5. After cooking, garnish with fresh spinach, onions, pine nuts, and chili flakes, as desired. Drizzle with lemon vinaigrette. Serve while hot.
Headshot of Cassie Hurwitz
Cassie Hurwitz
Assistant Editor

Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an assistant editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).