Erica Bretchelsbauer
It’s easy to be tempted into the Gulch’s Emmy Squared by Le Big Matt, a massive, two pattied, cheese-and-sauce smothered burger that gets lots of love on Instagram.
But their true specialty is Detroit-style square pizza, set atop a pillow-y, focaccia-like dough, and topped with an array of interesting ingredients. They’ve recently amped up their seasonal menu, and this month introduce a spring pizza meant to match the Nashville growing season, while also celebrating local source, The Mala Market, a purveyor of Sichuan pantry items.
“I love the combination of asparagus with pecorino and black pepper,” says chef-owner Matt Hyland. “When we learned about The Mala Market, we thought this would be a fun way to incorporate those warm, mouth-numbing flavors, [as well as showcase] another local company.”
He recommends recreating this pie at home with handmade, or store bought dough—but if you’re really short on time,
he adds, “you can always order a pizza to go, and add the pea shoot salad on top when you get home.”
Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Cherry Tomato Pie with Sichuan Pea Shoot Salad
Courtesy of chef Matt Hyland, Emmy Squared
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 bunch asparagus
1 large spring onion
Mozzarella cheese
Sichuan oil (see recipe below)
1 cup pea shoots
Lemon juice
Salt to taste
Slow roast the whole cherry tomatoes at 350F for 10 minutes. Snap bottoms of asparagus off and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cut roots and tops off of spring onion, and cut tops into 1-inch pieces. Slice onion in half vertically.
Top pizza dough with cheese, asparagus, slow-roasted tomatoes, and spring onion. Bake at 475F for 12 to 14 minutes. While baking, toss pea shoots in Sichuan oil, lemon juice, and finishing salt. Once pizza is done baking, slice and top with pea shoot salad.
For Sichuan Oil
Toast 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns in dry pan until it smells floral. Add 6 tablespoons of canola oil and 2 cloves garlic. Steep at 180F for at least one hour. Strain.
(Emmy Squared, 404 12th Ave. S., 615-248-2662; emmysquared.com)