This pesto pizza is a delightful twist on the classic pizza, offering a burst of fresh flavors with every bite. The combination of pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, and cherry tomatoes creates a vibrant and satisfying meal that's perfect for any occasion.
If you don't usually keep pesto sauce or parmesan cheese in your pantry, you might need to pick these up at the supermarket. Pesto sauce is typically found in the pasta aisle, while parmesan cheese can be located in the cheese section. Make sure to get fresh cherry tomatoes from the produce section for the best flavor.
Ingredients for Pesto Pizza Recipe
Pizza dough: The base of your pizza, which can be homemade or store-bought.
Pesto sauce: A flavorful sauce made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
Mozzarella cheese: A mild, stretchy cheese that melts beautifully on pizza.
Cherry tomatoes: Small, sweet tomatoes that add a burst of freshness.
Parmesan cheese: A hard, aged cheese that adds a salty, nutty flavor.
Olive oil: Used to drizzle over the pizza for added richness.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pizza.
Black pepper: Adds a touch of heat and depth to the flavor.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When spreading the pesto sauce on the pizza dough, use the back of a spoon to create an even layer. This ensures that every bite has a consistent flavor. Additionally, for an extra crispy crust, pre-bake the dough for 5 minutes before adding the toppings. This helps to prevent the crust from becoming soggy under the weight of the cheese and tomatoes.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
pizza dough - Substitute with naan bread: Naan bread provides a similar texture and can be a quick and convenient alternative to traditional pizza dough.
pesto sauce - Substitute with basil garlic aioli: Basil garlic aioli offers a creamy texture and a similar flavor profile, making it a good alternative to pesto sauce.
mozzarella cheese - Substitute with provolone cheese: Provolone cheese melts well and has a mild flavor that complements the other ingredients in the pizza.
cherry tomatoes - Substitute with sun-dried tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes provide a concentrated tomato flavor and a chewy texture that can add depth to the pizza.
parmesan cheese - Substitute with pecorino romano: Pecorino romano has a similar salty and nutty flavor, making it a suitable replacement for parmesan cheese.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a mild flavor, making it a good alternative for drizzling over the pizza.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt offers a more complex flavor and can enhance the overall taste of the pizza.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile, making it a good alternative to black pepper.
Other Alternative Recipes
How to Store or Freeze Your Pizza
- Allow the pesto pizza to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the crust soggy.
- Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep them fresh and prevent freezer burn.
- Place the wrapped slices in a zip-top freezer bag or an airtight container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
- For short-term storage, keep the pizza in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- For long-term storage, freeze the wrapped slices for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, reheat directly from frozen in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- To maintain the best texture, avoid microwaving the pizza, as it can make the crust chewy. Instead, use a baking sheet or pizza stone in the oven for a crispier result.
- If you have leftover pesto sauce, store it separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze it in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
- For an extra burst of flavor, add fresh basil leaves or a drizzle of balsamic glaze after reheating the pizza.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up for about 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove the hot baking sheet and place the leftover pesto pizza on it.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is crispy and the mozzarella cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, and enjoy your reheated pizza.
Skillet Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Place the leftover pesto pizza in the skillet.
- Cover the skillet with a lid to help melt the mozzarella cheese.
- Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the skillet, let it cool slightly, and serve.
Microwave Method:
- Place a microwave-safe plate in the microwave.
- Put a cup of water in the microwave to help keep the crust from getting too chewy.
- Place the leftover pesto pizza on the plate.
- Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the pizza is heated through.
- Let it cool slightly before enjoying.
Toaster Oven Method:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place the leftover pesto pizza on the toaster oven tray.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the crust is crispy and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from the toaster oven, let it cool slightly, and savor your reheated pizza.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover pesto pizza in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 3-5 minutes, or until the crust is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the air fryer, let it cool slightly, and enjoy your perfectly reheated pizza.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Preheat to 475°F (245°C) for baking the pizza.
Rolling pin: Roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness.
Floured surface: Prevents the dough from sticking while rolling it out.
Baking sheet: Transfer the rolled-out dough onto this for baking.
Spatula: Spread the pesto sauce evenly over the dough.
Cheese grater: Grate the parmesan cheese.
Measuring cups: Measure out the pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Knife: Halve the cherry tomatoes.
Cutting board: Use this as a surface to halve the cherry tomatoes.
Olive oil bottle: Drizzle olive oil over the pizza.
Salt shaker: Season the pizza with salt to taste.
Pepper grinder: Season the pizza with black pepper to taste.
Oven mitts: Protect your hands when removing the hot baking sheet from the oven.
Pizza cutter: Slice the pizza before serving.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Pre-made dough: Save time by using store-bought pizza dough instead of making it from scratch.
Pre-shredded cheese: Opt for pre-shredded mozzarella to cut down on prep time.
Jarred pesto: Use jarred pesto sauce instead of making your own to speed up the process.
Cherry tomatoes: Buy pre-washed cherry tomatoes to avoid extra cleaning.
Quick bake: Preheat your oven while you prepare the ingredients to ensure it’s ready when you are.
Pesto Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
Pizza Ingredients
- 1 piece Pizza dough
- ½ cup Pesto sauce
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
- Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness.
- Transfer the dough to a baking sheet.
- Spread the pesto sauce evenly over the dough.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the pesto.
- Distribute the halved cherry tomatoes on top.
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, slice, and serve.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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