Pizza is a favorite for many - both kids and adults alike. A great way to incorporate pizza into a healthy lifestyle is to make it at home instead of getting it at a restaurant or take-out.
Believe it of not, whether you're an experienced cook or have a hard time finding your way around the kitchen, making pizza from scratch can be a fun and easy dinner that you can control the ingredients in and enjoy regularly!
Homemade Pizza Crust:
1 1/2 cups warm water (approx. 110 degrees)
1 packet dry active yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 tsp sugar (I like to use turbinado sugar)
3 1/2 - 4 cups flour (all purpose or bread flour - or a combination of the two)
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Mix water, yeast, and sugar together in bowl and allow to proof (dissolve the yeast & sugar in water & let it set untouched) for approx 15 min. You should see a significant amount of yeast that has bloomed to the surface of the water (expanded and is sitting on top of the water - it will look kind of foamy) before moving on to the next step.
Add salt, olive oil, & flour into yeast mixture. Mix until all flour is incorporated then knead until dough is elastic and smooth (approx 5-6 min). If dough is too sticky, add 1 Tbsp of additional flour at a time and knead. Continue adding flour 1 Tbsp at a time until dough is no longer sticky.
Homemade Pizza Sauce:
1 - 14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 - 14.5 oz can tomato puree
Herbs & Seasonings to your taste:
salt & pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
dried basil
dried oregano
**PRO TIP: If you're not sure how much of the herbs & seasonings to add, start with 1 tsp of each & then taste. Dried herbs have a much more potent flavor than fresh herbs, so start small and then add more of whichever ingredients appeal to your tastes.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until all well incorporated together. This recipe will make enough sauce for 5-6 large pizzas. If you're not making that many pizzas at once, portion out the remaining sauce and freeze for next time!
Toppings:
The sky's the limit on toppings! Take inspiration from your favorite dishes and be willing to try new things until you find what you like.
Below are some healthy suggestions to get you started!
Cheese (Mozzarella, Fresh Mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar etc.)
Grilled Chicken
Onions
Orange or Yellow Bell Pepper
Mushrooms
Spinach
Tomatoes
Fresh Basil
Black Olives
Zucchini
Broccoli
If you're feeling really creative try:
Pesto (can be made with spinach, broccoli, or kale too!)
Mashed Potatoes (add a thin layer of mashed potatoes, caramelized onions and some cheddar cheese to make a Pierogi Pizza!)
Grilled Portabello Mushrooms, Arugula, and a Balsamic Reduction drizzle
Enchilada Sauce over a mix of your favorite vegetables like spinach, onions, mushrooms, julienned sweet potatoes, bell peppers, & zucchini & some cheddar cheese
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