Description
This Pesto Pizza recipe combines the freshness of homemade basil pesto with gooey melted mozzarella cheese on a crispy pizza crust. Perfect for a delicious and satisfying meal!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Basil Pesto:
- 1 cup (30g) fresh basil leaves
- 3 Tablespoons (24g) pine nuts
- 3 Tablespoons (12g) freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 small cloves garlic
- 3 Tablespoons (45ml) olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pizza:
- 1/2 recipe homemade pizza dough or 1 lb. store-bought pizza dough
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) olive oil, divided
- 1 Tablespoon (8g) cornmeal
- 1 and 1/2 cups (6 ounces or 180g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (75g) halved cherry tomatoes or sliced tomatoes (optional)
- 1/4 cup (12g) chopped fresh basil
- Optional for garnish: extra pesto, sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese and/or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pesto: Pulse basil, pine nuts, parmesan, and garlic. Add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate.
- Dough: Prepare pizza dough. Preheat oven to 475°F. Grease baking sheet, sprinkle with cornmeal.
- Shape the dough: Divide, flatten, shape into a 12-inch circle with a rim.
- Top the pizza: Brush olive oil, spread pesto, add mozzarella, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Bake: Bake for 14–15 minutes until golden. Sprinkle chopped basil on top.
- Serve: Slice and serve hot.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: Freeze baked and cooled pizza or pizza slices. Thaw and reheat as needed.
- Special Tools: Food Processor, Pizza Pan, Pastry Brush, Pizza Cutter
- Whole Wheat Pizza Dough: Feel free to use whole wheat pizza dough instead.
- Pesto: Use homemade or store-bought pesto.
- Garlic: Substitute with minced garlic if needed.
- Cheese: Use your favorite shredded cheese.
- Other Toppings: Customize with your preferred toppings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: Approximately 250
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
