Italian Pesto Pizzas Recipe

Italian Pesto Pizzas Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Read reviews (1)

Rate recipe

These individual pizzas, ready in 30 minutes or less, give you good reason not to call out for dinner. The pesto base makes the kitchen smell wonderful while it’s baking. —Kelly Evans, Kalamazoo, Michigan

This recipe is:

Quick

[X]

Rate Italian Pesto Pizzas Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

Italian Pesto Pizzas Recipe

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Yield: 4 Servings

20 10 30

Ingredients

4 whole wheat pita or flat breads
1/4 cup prepared pesto
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
1 plum tomato, halved and sliced
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons sliced ripe olives, optional
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

Directions

Place pita breads on an ungreased baking sheet; spread with pesto. Layer with mozzarella cheese, spinach, mushrooms, yellow pepper, tomato, onion, Parmesan cheese, olives if desired and pepper flakes.
Bake at 425° for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top pizzas with basil. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 pizza (calculated without olives) equals 430 calories, 19 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 42 mg cholesterol, 813 mg sodium, 42 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 26 g protein.

Originally published as Italian Pesto Pizzas in Simple & Delicious February/March 2012, p29

Parmesan Pointers

When a recipe calls for shredded Parmesan cheese, use the cheese found in bags in the grocery store dairy section. Shredded Parmesan is often used in salads or soups where the shreds make a pretty garnish. If grated Parmesan is called for, use the finely grated cheese sold in containers with shaker/pourer tops. This type works well in lasagna and casseroles. (You can substitute either shredded or grated Parmesan in equal proportions in your favorite recipes.) If you decide to buy a chunk of Parmesan cheese and grate your own, be sure to use the finest section on your grating tool. You can also use a blender or food processor. Simply cut the cheese into 1-inch cubes and process 1 cup of cubes at a time on high until finely grated.