Can you tell I’ve been having fun in the kitchen lately? I can’t help it. Summer brings so many fresh flavors that it’s hard not to want to create with them. I try not to go overboard with too many recipes, but this one is really worth sharing.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Since it is WIAW, here’s what came before the pizza…
Really? Same breakfast again? At least this time I switched from fried to scrambled! I just can’t get enough of egg and avocado on Udi’s gluten free millet chia bread with sriracha.
After sucking at yoga (spare me the ‘yoga isn’t something you can be good or bad at sympathies’), I came home starving. I devoured this spinach, quinoa, onion, tomato and feta with Brianna’s French vinaigrette.
Followed by leftover pork BBQ on more Udi’s bread with Nannie’s pickles.
Then, it was time to create, starting with pizza dough. I use my favorite whole wheat pizza dough recipe. I like this recipe because it incorporates some flavor into the dough with the dried basil, but you could use ranch mix (or any seasoning of your choice) instead for a fun twist! If you’ve never made your own, try it! It’s so simple even a toddler can do it!
Once the dough was rising on the counter and Hailey was napping, I got to work on harvesting basil from my overgrown basil plant to create pesto.
Pesto is something I always think sounds fancy, but is really easy to make. I used this basic pesto recipe.
Easy.
Peasy.
It stayed in a mason jar in the fridge until it was time for dinner.
At 7pm I preheated the oven to 400 degrees and got started with the dough.
Fresh dough rolls out so easily that I didn’t even need much flour.
I created a rim around the edge (to contain the pesto oil as it cooks), poked the entire crust with a fork (to prevent bubbles) then popped into into the oven for about 5 minutes. While it baked, I prepped my toppings.
I cut up and steamed broccoli and sliced fresh mozzarella and tomato. It’s important to only use the outside of the tomato, otherwise the juice and seeds will leave you with a puddle in the middle of your baked pizza.
5 minutes later, I pulled the half-baked crust and topped it, starting with the pesto.
Followed by the veggies.
And finally the cheese.
I popped it back in the oven for 10 minutes, then it was dinner time! Well, almost…
A behind the scenes peek thanks to a sneaky David…
Voila!
This fresh-tasting, light pizza hit the spot. I’ll definitely be making it many more times this season.
What are your favorite pizza toppings?
I’m usually a marinara and every-veggie-possible kind of girl, but switching it up with fresh pesto was delicious!
blackhuff says
I like this healthy pizza of yours and how sweet is that photo of Hailey smiling.
Mandy @ The Running Herbivore says
First of all I’m addicted to Udi bread too, dare I say I like it better than the gluten breads?!
Your shirt is superrrr cute!
I’ve been craving pizza lately, so I’m definitely creating some Vegan concotion like this Saturday night! I’m ready!
Chantal says
Hmm that looks good!
Lindsey says
Love pesto on pizza! My favorite toppings is just tomato, basil and fresh mozza cheese 🙂
Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome says
Yum! I love pesto and you’re right, so easy to make! It wasn’t years until I learned that you could actually substitute the expensive pine nuts for a different nut! Ha! Now I love experimenting with walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds and different herbs. Thanks for the tomato tip! Makes so much sense!
Brittany Dixon says
I know, those pine nuts are pricey!! I splurged 🙂
Beth Sheridan @sugarcoatedsheridans says
Oh that looks amazing! Love the top you’re wearing in David’s sneaky pic 🙂
Lauren K says
Hailey’s expressions are so great lately! I love it!
Brittany Dixon says
We need to book a fall session so you can capture some of them 🙂
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers says
Yum, looks fabulous! I haven’t tried to make my own pizza dough since… umm… maybe high school? Geeze, it’s been a while!
I love kalamata olives and feta on traditional pizza, but if I’m getting crazy, I’m all about some BBQ chicken pizza.
Brittany Dixon says
I LOVE BBQ pizza. I don’t know why I never remember to make it.
Christine@ Apple of My Eye says
Ohh my yum all of your eats look SO good! I got a small book with over 100 ways to make a pizza, but they don’t give a whole wheat recipe. Definitely trying your out within the next few days!
My favorite toppings are ham and pineapple! Hawaiian style is the way to go 🙂
Danica @ It's Progression says
I absolutely love using pesto on our pizzas. I usually use marinara on the majority of it and then a little pesto in one corner for myself 🙂
My favorite topping lately has been tons of fresh tomatoes – so good!
Brittany Dixon says
Brilliant! Why not do both! Definitely doing that next time 🙂
Ashlee@HisnHers says
Mmmm I love pesto on pizza! Your homemade pesto looks so much thicker and better than store bougt.
P.S. So jealous of you deck on the lake! I would love to live by the water. Ahhh
katie says
Pizza looks delicious, and I love that shirt!!!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Oh goodness, I LOVE pesto. This looks delicious! I just made a grilled pizza last night with red sauce, but then added blobs of pesto as part of the topping – it was the best of both worlds! 😉
Brittany Dixon says
Oh that sounds amazing! Definitely doing both next time!
Brittany from CountingMyCupcakes says
That looks awesome!! I need some pesto in my life…and pizza for that matter.
Kimberly @ Healthy Strides says
I want your shirt. And the pizza. Please.
I also love the line about not sucking at yoga. I do stink at it … when I do it … which is not often. Or ever. So I have no sympathies – just empathy.
Mary says
Meals containing pesto win with me every time!!! 🙂
Nicole @ FruitnFitness says
Oh this pizza sounds great! I love pesto! I was so shocked the first time I made it, I had thought it would have been so much harder to make than it is.
jen says
looks so fabulous! mmmm!
Maria says
Ooh, I love pesto. I love pizza. I want you to be my second mom.
I bought pine nuts from the bulk section at Whole Foods once. I didn’t pay much attention and got just a couple handfuls and went to pay. Then I almost cried. $18. Can’t get over it still today.
Kristen@Change of Pace says
That pizza looks incredible!
Beth Jamieson says
That pizza looks so yummy! I’m usually a marinara veggie girl too, but I’ll have to try pesto. Hey, you look so cute in that lacy scalloped top! Where did u get it?!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Your pizza looks like it turned out SUPER yummy! I need to try using pesto sauce the next time that I make pizza. I love loading on the veggies for my toppings, but I also really like adding pineapple, too!
Elle@thewaybyelle.blogspot.com says
Thanks for the step by step with the pesto! I too have an overgrown basil that I’ve been wanting to make pesto out of. 🙂
Allie says
Ok first off that pizza looks amazing, but most importantly, THAT TOP YOU ARE WEARING!!! SOOO CUTE!!!!
char eats greens says
Seriously…thank you for this! I just bought basil and pine nuts to make a pesto and pizza sounds like the perfect thing to put it on!! And totally stealing the recipes from you! This screams ‘summer’ for sure 😉
Kaitlin says
YUM! Various toppings we have used in the past inclue – eggplant, pepper, onion, chicken sausage and parmesan!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats says
That pizza looks delicious!! Some people disagree with me but I absolutely love putting pineapple on my pizzas, I think it makes for a really delicious pizza 🙂
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
Mmm this looks delicious! Spinach and feta pizza is my fav. Especially with roasted tomatoes.