Transform Your Dinner With This Easy Veggie Pizza Recipe

Veggie pizza starts with preparing dough and homemade sauce. Once assembled with fresh vegetables and cheese, it is baked until golden and crispy. The recipe is adaptable to different toppings and dietary needs. Fresh basil can be added for extra flavor.

Making a veggie pizza at home starts with preparing a simple pizza dough using flour, yeast, water, and olive oil, allowing it to rise for 1-2 hours. The homemade pizza sauce combines tomato pur e, garlic, oregano, and spices for a rich flavor. Once the dough is rolled out, it's layered with sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh toppings like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, and spinach. After assembling the pizza, bake it at 475 F for about 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly. Fresh basil can be added for garnish. The recipe offers the flexibility to customize toppings and make gluten-free alternatives.

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (store-bought or homemade)

• • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Pizza Sauce:

• • 1/2 cup tomato sauce or pur e
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp chili flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:

• • 1/2 cup sliced bell peppers (red, green, yellow)
  • 1/2 cup sliced onions
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup spinach leaves (optional)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning or oregano
  • Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Pizza Dough

• Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve 1 tsp of yeast and 1 tsp sugar in 3/4 cup of warm water. Let it sit for 10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
• Make the dough: In a large bowl, mix 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Gradually pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing with a spatula until combined.
• Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until it's smooth and elastic.
• Rest the dough: Shape the dough into a ball, place it in an oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

Step 2: Make the Pizza Sauce

• Cook the sauce: In a small pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and add 1/2 cup tomato pur e. Add 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
• Simmer: Cook the sauce on low heat for 5-7 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste and set aside.

Step 3: Shape the Dough

• Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 475 F (245 C) and preheat for 15 minutes.
• Roll out the dough: Punch down the risen dough and place it on a floured surface. Roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness for a thin crust or thicker if you prefer.
• Transfer to a pizza tray: Grease a pizza tray or baking sheet and transfer the rolled-out dough onto it.

Step 4: Assemble the Pizza

• Spread the sauce: Use a spoon to evenly spread the pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border for the crust.
• Add cheese: Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
• Layer the toppings: Add your sliced veggies bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, and spinach (optional). Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and sprinkle Italian seasoning or oregano over it.

Step 5: Bake the Pizza

• Bake: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
• Check doneness: If you prefer a crispy crust, leave it in the oven for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

• Garnish: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for 2-3 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
• Slice and serve: Slice the pizza into wedges and serve hot.

Tips:

• Customize toppings: You can use other veggies like zucchini, eggplant, or corn.
• Make ahead: The dough can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Gluten-free option: Use a gluten-free flour mix for the dough to suit dietary preferences.
• Enjoy your delicious, homemade veggie pizza.