Veggie Pizza Recipe

If you love a good veggie pizza, I’ve got a great one for you. It uses an easy, whole-grain crust, and you can make as many as you need to, to feed either yourself or a whole crowd.

A truly great veggie pizza is a thing of beauty. With just the right sauce and veggies, it all comes together under some bubbling hot cheese to make the perfect experience on a plate. Plus, without the processed meat, it’s actually a pretty darn healthy meal if you make it at home.

A Good Homemade Pizza Recipe

When you make your pizza at home, not only is it fun, but it’s also so much better for you. Plus, when you make it at home, you can take the time to really develop the flavors so that your pizza will actually taste pretty darned amazing. So much better than anything you could ever buy at the store.

You have full control over what veggies go on and how they are prepared and seasoned, and then you also control the crust. Which in my opinion, is an area that most people forget about.

Don’t get me wrong. You can just smear some sauce on it and have a delicious pizza. But for those who really want to pack some flavor into their crust, you can season it first. It truly brings a lot of flavor to the pizza at every level.

For some folks, this means sprinkling some fresh or dried herbs over an already-baked crust or over the sauce before putting anything else on (as I did in the recipe below).

For those using raw pizza dough, it means loading up a small amount of oil with a ton of spices and basting the raw crust before baking it. Once it’s baked with all those herbs and spices, you can then proceed to layer on everything else.

Crafting The Perfect Veggie Pizza

Once you have the crust taken care of, it’s time to focus on the toppings. For a flavorful pizza, it’s important to not use raw veggies as toppings. At least not if you really want a lot of flavor. You have to cook the veggies first and get them as caramelized as you can before you put them on the pizza. You also want to make sure that you get a little bit of salt on those veggies towards the end of cooking them so that their flavors are really brought to the surface as well.

Veggie Pizza Toppings

For your toppings, there is an endless supply of produce. Head to the store and pick out your favorites. Here are some suggestions:

• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Olives
• Zucchini
• Mushrooms
• Garlic cloves
• Spinach
• Kale
• Collard greens
• Mustard greens
• Arugula

The Crust

I would be remiss if I didn’t dive into the crust a bit further. The crust is the vehicle of cheesy goodness. You can’t have a pizza without a crust. And the great part is, you have choices!

Gluten-free: Make an oat flour pizza crust.

Vegan: Pizza crust is really easy to make without animal products

Keto: There are so many options for a keto pizza crust. I’ve even seen some keto folks make a crust out of cheese!

Sugar-free: It’s super easy to make your pizza dough sugar-free. The key word there is, “make”. Most store-bought dough has added sugar. So making your crust at home will be critical for sugar-free folks.

Dairy-free: Pizza crust is super easy to make dairy free, especially when you make it at home.

Easy: If all you care about is making life easier, it doesn’t get much easier than pre-made pizza crust. But most of them are full of a lot of unwanted ingredients. For this situation, I recommend the humble, whole wheat pita bread. It’s what I used for this pizza below, and it’s a great way to make simple, personal-size pizzas, even at the last minute.

Important Note

This recipe was developed to be a pita bread pizza. If you use a different type of crust, you’ll need to accommodate that when making this recipe. This recipe makes a pita-sized pizza. If you make something bigger, you’ll need to multiply the amount of toppings accordingly.

FAQs

Can I Make The Pizza Gluten-Free?

Yes, if you need a gluten-free option, you can use gluten-free pita bread or try gluten-free pizza crust alternatives like cauliflower crust or gluten-free tortillas.

How Can I Make The Pizza Spicier?

If you prefer a spicier pizza, you can add crushed red pepper flakes or thinly sliced jalapenos as a topping. Adjust the amount according to your desired level of spiciness.

Can I Add Additional Toppings To The Pizza?

Absolutely! Feel free to get creative and add your favorite toppings such as fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or caramelized onions to customize the pizza to your liking.

Can I Use Store-Bought Pizza Sauce Instead Of Tomato Sauce?

Yes, store-bought pizza sauce can be used as a convenient alternative to tomato sauce. Choose one that suits your taste preferences (look for no added sugar) or make your own homemade pizza sauce.

Recipe Tips

1. Preheat the oven and baking sheet or pizza stone before placing the pita pizza for a crispier crust.
2. Experiment with different vegetable toppings to suit your taste preferences. Feel free to add or substitute ingredients like bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or spinach.
3. For added flavor, sprinkle some dried herbs like oregano or crushed red pepper flakes on top before baking.
4. If you prefer a softer crust, lightly brush the pita bread with olive oil before spreading the tomato sauce.
5. To prevent a soggy crust, make sure not to overload the toppings. Use a light hand when adding sauce, cheese, and vegetables.
6. If you’re short on time, consider prepping the ingredients in advance or using pre-sliced or pre-grilled vegetables.
7. Serve the veggie pizza with a side salad or a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a complete meal.
8. Customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of black pepper or adding other seasonings like garlic powder or dried basil.
9. Make extra pizzas and freeze them individually wrapped for quick and convenient meals later on.
10. Have fun and get creative with your toppings! The beauty of pizza is that you can experiment with different combinations to suit your taste preferences

About The Ingredients

Whole Wheat Pita Bread: Look for one that is 100% whole wheat and has no added sugar. Whole wheat pita bread is a healthier alternative to white pita bread, offering more fiber and nutrients. It adds a nuttier flavor and a slightly denser texture to the pizza.

Tomato Sauce: Choose a high-quality tomato sauce or marinara sauce for the best flavor. Look for options without added sugars or preservatives, or you can make your own homemade tomato sauce.

Cheese: Mozzarella is a classic choice, but you can use any cheese or combination of cheeses you like. Cheddar cheese is a tasty option.

Black Olives: Use pitted black olives for convenience. You can either slice them or keep them whole, depending on your preference.

Onion: Make sure to cut these small. It doesn’t matter if they are sliced or diced, as long as the pieces are on the small side to accommodate the smaller pizza crust.

Roasted Red Pepper: You can purchase roasted red peppers, or you can roast them at home yourself. Your choice. Or just omit them if you don’t like them.

Zucchini: Keep the pieces small.

Fresh Basil Leaves: A small handful, torn or chopped

Olive Oil: You can use any oil you like. But olive oil is a classic for pizza.

Mushrooms: Cut these small as well. Sliced or diced, it doesn’t matter.

Black Pepper: Adjust the amount to your preference.

How To Make Veggie Pizza

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a grill pan, heat a little olive oil over medium-high heat. Grill the sliced zucchini in the pan for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until they develop grill marks and become tender. Remove from heat.

Grill the sliced mushrooms in the pan for about 3-4 minutes, until they are cooked through and slightly browned. Remove from heat.

Place the whole wheat pita bread or personal-size pizza crust on a baking sheet or pizza stone.

Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce evenly over each pita bread.

Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese over the tomato sauce, covering the entire surface.

Add the grilled zucchini, grilled mushrooms, sliced black olives, roasted red pepper strips, olives, and sliced onion evenly over the cheese. Drizzle olive oil over the top of the pizza. Season with a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.

Place the baking sheet or pizza stone in the preheated oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the pita are crispy.

Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle the torn or chopped fresh basil leaves over the top of your pizza.

Slice the pizza into wedges and serve them warm.

Storage

1. Allow the pizzas to cool completely at room temperature.
2. If there are any leftover toppings, remove them from the pizza to prevent sogginess.
3. Place the cooled pizzas in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.
4. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Cold Veggie Pizza

Some folks love a cold pizza. I have never really understood it, but apparently, there are a lot of you out there. The great thing about a veggie pizza is that there are no cold, hard bits of meat on there with globs of fat that have surfaced in the cold during the night.

How To Reheat Pizza

There are a lot of ways to reheat pizza. And the best way is the way that is most convenient for you personally. So here are all the ways you can do it:

1. Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the leftover pizza directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted, and the crust becomes crispy.
2. Skillet Method: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Place the pizza slices in the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust becomes crispy. This method helps to revive the bottom crust while keeping the toppings intact.
3. Toaster Oven Method: If you have a toaster oven, it can be an excellent option for reheating pizza. Preheat the toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the pizza slices on the oven rack or a baking sheet and heat for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crispy.
4. Microwave Method (with caution): This method is quick but can result in a softer crust. Place a microwave-safe plate under the pizza slices and heat them on medium power in 30-second intervals until the cheese is melted. To prevent sogginess, consider placing a microwave-safe cup of water in the microwave along with the pizza slices.

Freezing

You can freeze the prepared pizza before baking it. Wrap the pizza tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to eat, simply place the pizza in the oven frozen and bake as directed. You may need to add a minute or two more of baking time.

Recipe Supplies

For this recipe, you’ll need a baking sheet or pizza stone, a pizza cutter or sharp knife, a cutting board, and some measuring cups or a kitchen scale.

More Homemade Pizza Recipes

• Pesto Pita Pizza
• Mushroom Pita Pizza
• Hawaiian Pita Pizza

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Veggie Pizza Recipe