I love a good slice of pizza. . with a nice side salad . . so why not combine the two?
This Four Cheese Veggie pizza is the result of cleaning out my fridge, using every single vegetable possible, sautéing them and sneaking them into this delicious pizza for my family, er . . my husband.
My husband who tells me he eats salad for lunch at least twice a week but I don’t believe him. (Sorry, honey, I don’t believe you!) Now, we are talking about a weekday supper here so we’re using store bought fresh pizza dough. Quick, already made and ready to use. You can make your own pizza dough if you’d like but we’re keeping it simple here today. Pizzas are a great way to use up leftover meats, cheese and vegetables.
And top it with some fresh arugula, olive oil and a splash of balsamic and it’s absolutely delicious. Perfection. Dinner and a salad. All in one.
Start by sautéing all of your chopped veggies, except the bell peppers. You’re not cooking for too long, just until they are a bit softened. They will cook longer in the oven when you are baking the pizza. Set aside when finished.
On to the pizza dough.
Roll out the pizza dough and transfer to your prepared baking sheet or pizza stone. I use my Silpain non-stick baking mat for bread and pizza. It always gives me a nice crisp and perfectly cooked crust. Now, it’s not wood-fired pizza crispy and oh how I would kill for a wood-fire oven in my backyard. Ha! Well, I’ll keep dreaming and will just close my eyes, eat my veggie pizza and dream of being in Italy.
Sorry for that diversion. Let’s get back to this glorious pizza at hand. Brush on some tomato sauce, dollop (or spread) on some fresh ricotta cheese, your provolone and start putting on your toppings. Please, please do not skip the fresh ricotta cheese. It is heaven on this pizza.
Top with the red bell pepper slices and cheese.
And bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until crust is browned and crispy and cheese is bubbling.
Let cool for about 5-6 minutes, top with the fresh arugula, olive oil and a splash of balsamic! Slice, serve and enjoy immediately!
Four Cheese Leek and Mushroom Pizza for #WeekdaySupper
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil + more for topping
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup brussels sprouts chopped
- 1 cup cauliflower chopped
- 1 cup leeks tender light green and white parts only, chopped
- 1 cup cremini mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- salt and pepper to taste
- store bought pizza dough + flour for dusting
- tomato sauce
- about 1/2 cup ricotta cheese or 4 dollops
- 6 slices or freshly grated provolone cheese
- 1/3 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 red bell pepper sliced
- fresh arugula
- balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute. Add all of your chopped veggies, except the red bell peppers, sautéing until they are softened, for about 5-6 minutes. They will cook longer in the oven when you are baking the pizza. Remove from the heat and set aside when finished.
- Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough and, using your rolling pin, transfer to your prepared baking sheet, pizza stone or Silpain non-stick baking mat. Brush on some tomato sauce, dollop (or spread) on the fresh ricotta cheese, your provolone cheese and start putting on your vegetable toppings. Drain the liquid from the sauté pan before adding the vegetables.
- Top with the red bell pepper slices and then sprinkle on the mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until crust is browned and crispy and cheese is bubbling.
- Let cool for about 5-6 minutes, top with the fresh arugula, olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Slice, serve and enjoy immediately!
Need weeknight dinner ideas? Be sure to check out this fabulous lineup for this week! Unfortunately, since it’s TUESDAY, you’ll have to come back on Friday to see all of the published recipes but click on over to all of these fabulous blogs and check out their lovely recipes!
Monday – A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures – Roasted Red Pepper and Quinoa Enchiladas
Tuesday – Hip Foodie Mom – Four Cheese Leek and Mushroom Pizza- That’s me! 🙂
Wednesday – MarocMama – Chicken Tajine with Tomato Jam
Thursday – Basic N Delicious – Tomato and Peppers Frittata
Friday – Meal Planning Magic – Turkey, Vegetable and Barley Soup
I hope you enjoy!
I love the look of these hearty pizzas and they most certainly say the perfect mid week supper to me! Leftovers never looked as good as these 🙂
Thanks so much, Alice! 🙂
Now that is the best use of leftovers I’ve seen in a while. What an incredible pizza.
Thank you so much, Renee! This is definitely how I’m going to be making pizza for a while. . the ricotta cheese was new and delicious!
Love the abundance of veggies you used! This sounds so good. You really cant go wrong with homemade pizza for a good weeknight supper
Thanks so much Shaina! I totally agree! 🙂
Ok, you reached me on so many levels here with this recipe. First off, arugula on pizza is my favorite!! Secondly, provolone instead of mozzarella, melts better! Plus ricotta! ohhh lordy! I keep thinking about making homemade pizza, going to try this! Thanks for the recipe! Have a wonderful week!
Hi Kelly,
you totally need to try this!! I call this a celebration of white cheeses and veggies. . using the ricotta was new for me but I loved it. . and the veggies and fresh arugula are just the icing on the cake! I hope you do try it!
This is absolutely blowing my mind… looks beyond gorgeous and delicious! I think it’s funny he tells you he has already eaten his salads… hehe. We all know our husbands better than they think we do!
Hi Gloria!
Ain’t that the truth! 🙂 where would our husbands be without us? and thank you so much . . this pizza really was delicious. . hope you give this recipe a try!
I love! Bright, colorful and full of so much good stuff!
Thanks so much Susan! 🙂
This looks absolutely amazing – I’d go for a slice now!
Thanks so much, Melanie! Best “use-up-all-of the-leftover-veggies” pizza ever! 🙂
Bright and beautiful! Would love some right now! 🙂
Thank you so much, Sandra!
There is no better way to eat pizza in my mind. This is beautiful, healthy and I have no doubt, amazingly delicious!
Thanks so much, Maria!
Oh, my gosh, this is definitely MY kind of pizza! I love, love all the veggies…but I’d have to make some meat lovers option for the rest of the family :/ Thank goodness my pizza dough recipe makes enough for all of us!
Liz,
My husband felt the same way!! Even though I made this for him (so he could get his veggies), he was not happy. . at all. . he still ate it but was not happy. . . just like he’s not happy about Meatless Mondays. . oh well! 🙂
What a beautiful pizza Alice! I love the fact that there’s a whole whack of veggies atop that delightful cheesy pizza… perfect for all of the fussy eaters out there (I love brussels sprouts but I seriously need to dress them up for my husband to eat them. He hates them). As for your husband’s lunchbox? Hahaa! Yes. He and Aaron should meet! I’ve never heard of store-bought fresh pizza dough… but I want to find it! How awesome is that?! Great post Alice. My stomach is grumbling… xx
Thank you, Laura! There is a store here called Trader Joe’s that carries fresh pizza dough and Whole Foods has frozen pizza dough. i’ve even had a friend visit her local pizza joint to ask if they would sell her pizza dough and I think they just gave her some! 🙂
Alice, my stomach is growling like crazy just looking at these photos. Your pizza is gorgeous – topped with so many yummy, good-for-you ingredients. Homemade pizza is the best and when you’re strapped for time during the week, store bought pizza dough is a life saver! I love this. And I laughed when you said you totally don’t believe Paul about the salad thing. I wouldn’t either! 😉
Oh, he totally doesn’t. And he hated eating this pizza b/c there was no meat on it. Pissed me off! 🙂 it only makes me want to make more veggie dishes for him! 🙂
Yes! Lately I’ve been so into entrees and side dishes all-in-one. Last night, we were going to have pasta with a side of zucchini, but then I just ended up throwing it all together. So much easier. And pizza and salad all-in-one is just the best move!
I love to make pizzas at home and am always looking for new topping ideas. I love this combo creation! Salad + pizza = brilliant. 🙂
Thank you so much, Tina!
This looks INCREDIBLE! It was SO great to see you this weekend! I hope to see you soon! XO