Garden Vegetable Pizza with a Bread Machine Whole Wheat Herb Crust

The ingredients for this pizza crust can be placed in the bread machine in the morning before you leave for work. Set a delay setting to have it kneaded and ready to use when you get home. Just put it in a pizza pan, top it with the vegetables of your choice.

The whole wheat crust makes it healthier than pizza you buy. Do you know you can get whole wheat flour now that is as smooth and light as white flour? Look for it on the baking aisle of your store. It costs a bit more, but the flavor and texture is wonderful.

My recipe has you put a teaspoon of cornmeal on the pizza pan. This helps to prevent the pizza dough from sticking to the pan, and adds a crunchy texture to the crust.

Ingredients for the pizza dough:

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups of whole wheat flour (this recipe will work with white flour as well)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons Italian herbs (basil, oregano, and thyme)
• 1 package or 2 ½ teaspoons yeast

Preparation of the pizza dough in the bread machine:

• Place all ingredients for the dough in the machine in the order listed.
• Make a well in the dry ingredients to place the yeast into.
• Do not allow the yeast to touch the wet ingredients.
• Set the bread machine to the dough cycle.
• When the dough is done kneading, take it out of the machine and split into two pieces.
• Roll each piece of dough into a ball, then roll out into a 12 inch circle.
• (If you are only making one pizza, you can freeze the ball of dough for up to 2 months.)
• Sprinkle a teaspoon of cornmeal on a pizza pan and place the crust on it.

Topping for one garden vegetable pizza:

• 1 small bottle or can of pizza sauce
• 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup of chopped red and green bell peppers and onions
• 1 cup of sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 small jar of artichoke hearts
• 1 cup of baby leaf spinach or broccoli
• ½ cup of tomatoes, chopped

Spread the sauce on the pizza dough.
Top with the vegetables and finish with the cheese.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes.


Photo/Aramand Agasi on Flickr

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Find more recipes and menus in my articles as the Sacramento Easy Meals Examiner.