Mediterranean Pizza

Elements Wanted

Listed here are a couple of notes on every of the components you’ll want:

• Pizza dough: I often use this Finest Pizza Dough recipe, a reader favourite recipe I’ve relied on for years. When you like skinny crust, my Skinny Crust Pizza Dough additionally works nicely.
• Pizza sauce: My 5-Minute Pizza Sauce is non-negotiable! All you want is fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and oregano, and it comes collectively in minutes.
• Veggies: For the veggies, I exploit recent spinach (which I sauté first), purple onion, Kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. I believe you’ll discover that the flavour mixture simply says “Mediterranean”.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese: I like to make use of entire milk mozzarella for the very best melting.
• Feta cheese: Salty feta is one other key ingredient for the right Mediterranean vibe.
• Recent basil: Add it after baking for the very best herby, pizzeria taste.

The way to Make Mediterranean Pizza

Right here’s a step-by-step breakdown — or simply scroll all the way down to my recipe under!

1. Make the pizza dough. Comply with my Do-it-yourself Pizza Dough recipe: it takes quarter-hour to combine and 45 minutes to reset and rise.
2. Preheat. Place a pizza stone within the oven and preheat to 500°F. That is the place your crispy crust comes from! See The way to Use a Pizza Stone for extra.
3. Prep the toppings. For the sauce, mix collectively fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, oregano, and salt. Sauté the spinach for about 2 minutes till wilted, and chop the opposite toppings.
4. Stretch the dough. Mud your pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour, then stretch the dough right into a circle. See my ideas for tips on how to stretch pizza dough.
5. Construct the pizza. Unfold a skinny, even layer of pizza sauce over the dough, then high with the veggies and cheeses.
6. Bake. Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake for five to 7 minutes, till the crust is golden brown and the cheese is effervescent.
7. End with basil. Let the pizza cool for a minute or two, then scatter recent basil. Slice and serve.

Straightforward Variations to Strive

I really like this Mediterranean pizza recipe as written, however there are a couple of methods to range it up that make it simply as tasty:

• Add artichoke hearts. Marinated artichoke hearts are a pure match right here! Drain them nicely, then chop and add a handful with the olives.
• Swap in goat cheese. Goat cheese works nicely as a substitute of feta; it has a extra gentle taste and is creamier. (It’s one in every of my favourite pizza toppings, like on this goat cheese pizza.)
• Strive arugula as a substitute of spinach. Skip the sautéed spinach and add a handful of recent arugula after baking (I like mixing it with slightly olive oil and pinch of salt first).
• Add purple pepper or bell peppers. Skinny strips of roasted purple pepper add sweetness; or you would add finely chopped peppers.
• Make it vegan. Use a vegan mozzarella and skip the feta (or use a vegan feta).
• Use store-bought pizza dough. After all, you need to use this shortcut for weeknights.
• Strive pita or naan because the crust. For a fair sooner weeknight concept, attempt these toppings on a naan pizza or pita pizza.

What to Serve With It

Right here’s how I prefer to serve this recipe:

• A crisp inexperienced salad with Greek salad dressing
• A easy tossed salad with cherry tomatoes and a lightweight French dressing, like my favourite chopped salad
• Wine: a light-bodied purple like a Pinot Noir or a crisp white like Grillo.
• Extra pizza: Pair with my Pesto Pizza or a basic Do-it-yourself Margherita Pizza.