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Some people think that pizza is nothing but greasy junk food. But, pizza doesn’t need to be a guilty indulgence. You can make a much healthier version by making your own pizza with veggie toppings. Vegetarian pizza toppings can add excellent flavor and nutrition to your pizza. Find ideas and recipes below to put a healthy spin on your next pizza night.
Veggie Pizza Can Be A Healthy Meal Option
The American Heart Association recommends that adults get five servings of vegetables a day. Adding lots of veggies to your pizza can help you reach that recommended serving amount.1
Homemade veggie pizza lets you add the right amounts and types of veggies. That control allows your pizza to be part of a healthy and nutritious diet.2
How To Make Veggie Pizza
A great pizza can be surprisingly easy to make at home. Follow the steps below to make your own pizza dough and sauce. Once you have the basic elements together, you can select your vegetable pizza toppings.
Make Your Own Dough
Looking for a healthy alternative to a traditional homemade pizza dough? Try this low-carb, healthy cauliflower pizza dough instead. It’s easy to make and you can put all your favorite toppings on it like a normal pizza.
Cauliflower Pizza Dough Ingredients
- 1 pound chopped cauliflower
- 2 tsp salt
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp dried garlic
Cauliflower Pizza Dough Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Prepare a sheet tray with a piece of parchment paper. Add a tsp of olive oil to the paper and spread it out with a paper towel.
- Put the cauliflower in a food processor and blend until fine. Transfer the cauliflower to a clean kitchen towel. Squeeze out remaining liquid.
- Transfer to a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Spread half the dough out on one side of the sheet tray in either a circle or square, depending on the method you use below. Do the same with the other half of the dough on the other side of the tray.
- Place in the oven and bake for 15- 20 minutes until the sides are a light golden color.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Using the parchment paper, flip the crusts over.
- Add your toppings and follow the directions for a cast iron, baking stone or sheet tray method below.
Homemade pizza dough requires a few basic ingredients and a few hours of rest. The toughest part is really the waiting. This simple recipe provides a light and crispy crust that goes great with any vegetarian pizza topping.
Pizza Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup “00” flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm water
- ¾ tsp dry active yeast
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add the salt and flour to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir the water, yeast and olive oil into a small mixing bowl. Then, add the liquid to the flour, and knead for a few minutes or until well combined. Let rest for 20 minutes.
- Knead the dough for another few minutes. Place it on a heavily floured surface — like a rimmed baking sheet — and cover with a moist towel or plastic wrap. Let rest for 3-4 hours at room temperature.
- Uncover the dough when you are ready to bake, and cut into pieces based on the cooking method (discussed below).
No time to make dough? No problem. There are plenty of premade doughs that you can use instead. Look for healthy options like frozen cauliflower crust or broccoli crust pizza doughs.
Make Your Own Pizza Sauce
A delicious sauce can elevate a pizza to great culinary heights. This tasty recipe is a wonderful all-around sauce that can accompany lots of veggie pizza toppings. Plus, it’s super fast and easy to make.
Ingredients For Pizza Sauce
- 1 can San Marzano peeled tomatoes
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil- ½ cup basil leaves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp sea salt
Instructions For Making Pizza Sauce
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender.
- Use a medium speed to blend until the tomatoes are pureed. Pour into a container, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Selecting A Cheese
The third crucial component to your pizza will be cheese. Fresh mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese are the most common choices. However, other tasty options include feta cheese and ricotta cheese.
Dairy-Free Vegan Cheese Options
You can easily make a vegan pizza by using dairy-free cheese. Look for mozzarella cheese substitutes for your next pizza night.
Ultimate Veggie Pizza Toppings
Now that you have your dough, pizza sauce, and cheese, you can start to pick out some of your favorite veggies for your homemade pizza. It’s hard to go wrong when selecting vegetarian pizza toppings. Nearly every veggie can find a tasty home atop your pizza pie.
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Fresh basil
- Bell peppers
- Black olives
- Roasted garlic
- Butternut squash
- Eggplant
- Pine nuts
- Fresh spinach
- Yellow squash
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Artichoke
How To Make Your Veggie Pizza
Now, it’s time for the big bake. There are several methods you can use to bake your veggie pizza. Choose one based on your preferred thickness and crust type.
Baking Sheet Pizza
Make one big pizza with this method. Start by placing a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet. Add some flour or semolina flour to the surface, and place your dough in the center. Slowly push the dough outward with your fingers until it covers the whole tray. Add your sauce, cheese, and veggie pizza toppings. Bake for 18-22 minutes on high heat until the crust is golden brown.
Baking Stone Pizza
This is a great way to get a thin, pizzeria style pie. Place the stone in the center of a hot oven. Then, take one-half of the dough from the recipe above and stretch it out on a pizza peel. Add your toppings, and slide the pie directly onto the hot pizza stone. Bake for 10-12 minutes on high heat until the crust is golden brown.
Cast Iron Pan Pizza
Make a thicker pie with this classic deep dish method. Add some olive oil to the pan, and spread it around with a towel. Place half the dough recipe into the center of the pan, and press it out toward the edges. Add your toppings, and bake on high for 30-35 minutes on high heat.
Delicious Veggie Pizza Recipes
Need some inspiration? Here are some yummy veggie pizza recipes to help get your pizza party started.
Classic Margherita Pizza
Few pizzas can rival a Margherita pizza’s winning combination of simplicity and flavor. All you need to make this pizza is some mozzarella, parmesan, and basil. This classic pie is particularly well-suited for the pizza stone method of baking.
Kalamata Olives, Pepperoncini Peppers, Spinach, And Feta
This delicious Mediterranean veggie pizza is loaded with healthy ingredients. It’s a great pizza to make in the cast iron because the thickness of the dough helps support all the toppings.
Pesto Pie With Pine Nuts And Butternut Squash
Put a fun twist on your pizza by using a pesto as the base instead of tomato sauce. The pine nuts add great texture, and the squash adds a touch of fall flavor. Try this out on the baking sheet.
Mushrooms With Caramelized Onions And Kale
Mushrooms deserve a place in the veggie pizza hall of fame. Their firm texture and earthy flavor make them a great substitute for meat. The caramelized onions and kale in this veg pizza recipe also build up the heartiness. It tastes great with any of the baking methods above.
Arugula And Cherry Tomatoes
Enjoy your salad and pizza all in one with this vegetarian pizza recipe. Bake a Margherita or cheese pizza. While it cooks, mix the arugula and fresh tomatoes with a little olive oil. When the pizza is finished, add the veggies right on top for a fresh and light vegetable topping.
Veggies Deliver Flavor And Nutrition On Homemade Pizza Night
These recipes can help you make a healthy vegetarian pizza at home. Try some of the signature pizzas above, or get creative with the produce you have on hand. Anyway you slice it, veggies are bound to make your next pizza night a success.
Learn More:
Healthy Diet Tips: The Best Veggies To Eat
Quick And Easy Recipes: Vegetable Side Dishes
Easy And Healthy Vegan Potato Recipes To Try
Sources
1 https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/fruits-and-vegetables-serving-sizes
2 https://www.insider.com/pizza-is-actually-good-for-you-2018-12#pizza-can-have-a-lot-of-protein-2
