Discover delicious flavors of homemade pizza with the perfect balance of fresh ingredients and a golden, crispy crust. Topped with savory sauce, melted cheese, and your favorite toppings, this easy recipe brings a taste of Italy right to your kitchen. Whether you’re making a quick meal or impressing guests, this simple yet flavorful dish is sure to satisfy any lover of that dish. Follow along and create a mouthwatering meal that’s as comforting as it is gourmet!
Preparation time ⏰:
Total Time: 2 hour 20 minutes
Number of Portions 🍽:
Serves 4
Ingredients:
For the Pizza Dough (or use a store-bought pizza dough):
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 3/4 cup warm water (110°F/43°C)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- semolina for sprinkling
For the Toppings:
- 1/2 small eggplant (aubergine), sliced into thin rounds
- 1/2 small zucchini
- 1/3 broccoli
- few cherry tomatoes
- Salt, to taste
- Olive oil, for roasting and drizzling
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce (or marinara sauce)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or a mix of mozzarella and provolone)
- 1/4 cup black or Kalamata olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh arugula leaves
- 3 mushrooms sliced
- Fresh basil leaves, optional for garnish
- Crushed red pepper flakes, optional for a bit of heat
Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 320 kcal
Protein: 12g
Fat: 18g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Note: These values are approximate and may vary depending on portion sizes and specific brands of ingredients used.
Instructions:
Prepare the Pizza Dough (if making from scratch):
- First in a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in the warm water and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the yeast is foamy.
- Then in a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix until a rough dough forms.
- Next knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1–1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.
Preheat the Oven:
- Increase the oven temperature to 475°F (245°C) and place a pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
Assemble the Pizza:
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface with a little of semolina to your desired thickness.
- Carefully transfer the rolled-out dough onto a piece of parchment paper.
- Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Once it is done arrange the thin eggplant and zucchini slices, blanched broccoli, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and olives on top of the cheese.
Bake the Pizza:
- Now carefully slide the parchment paper with the assembled pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
Finish with Arugula:
- Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a minute or two.
- On the top put fresh arugula leaves, a few fresh basil leaves (optional), and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes if you’d like a bit of spice
Serving Tip 💡:
For an extra touch of flavor, drizzle your homemade pizza with a bit of high-quality olive oil or balsamic glaze after it’s baked. The olive oil adds richness, while the balsamic glaze provides a sweet tanginess that complements savory toppings.
