Italian Pesto Pizzas

Name: Italian Pesto Pizzas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings.
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

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

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.

Nutrition Facts

1 pizza (calculated without olives): 430 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 813mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 6g fiber), 26g protein.

Originally published as Pesto Pizza in Simple & Delicious February/March 2012