Pita Pizza

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Chef Abbie Gellman RD

When you’re not sure what to eat, or running low on groceries at the end of the week, try out my pita pizza! Not only can you use up any leftovers you have hanging around, but it’s a fun activity for the kids, too. Create your own personalized pita pizza, mixing and matching toppings.

How to make pita pizza

To make these pita pizzas, start off by preheating the broiler on low heat. Next, brush both sides of the pitas with olive oil and broil for 2 minutes, flipping halfway through. From there coat the pita with ÂĽ cup of sauce. Then you and the kids can add your favorite combo of toppings, including veggies and cheese, for the ultimate pita pizza. Once all the toppings are in place, broil the pita pizzas for 4-6 minutes, watching closely to make sure they do not burn. Finally, top your pita pizza with your favorite fresh or dried herbs like oregano, basil and/or parsley. In under 10 minutes, you can have a filling and nutritious meal!

Note, when adding veggies, be sure to not add too much as it may impact the pita pizza cooking quality. 

No pita? No problem

If you don’t have pita in the house, no problem! You can make other variations of these personalized pizzas using whole wheat english muffins, whole wheat sandwich bread, lavash, naan, whatever you have around the house! The same goes for sauces. If you’re not a big fan of red sauce, you can use pesto, olive oil and garlic or you can omit the sauce altogether. That’s the beauty of this recipe, you can really make it your own. 

Alternative pita pizza ideas

Below are three additional ideas aside from the classic recipe.

  1. Pesto pita pizza: In place of the red sauce, use my pistachio pesto, or any of my other pesto recipes on ChefAbbieGellman.com, and top with cherry tomatoes and cheese of your choice.
  2. Herby pita pizza: In place of the red sauce, use my arugula chimichurri and top with sliced steak and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
  3. No-bake pita pizza: slightly toast the pita and top with hummus and/or my avocado sauce and veggies.

Health benefits of pita pizza

I love this pita pizza for many reasons. First, it’s easy to prepare, second, it’s cost-effective and third, it is full of nutrients. Because the pita pizza toppings may change depending on what you have on hand, let’s talk about the importance of consuming whole grains, like the whole wheat pita.

Whole grains include wheat, oats, barley and any other grain that is still in-tact (still contain endosperm, bran and germ).1 This also goes for food items that contain in-tact grains, like 100% whole wheat pita. When shopping, look for the 100% whole grain stamp to be sure you’re purchasing a whole grain product.

Current recommendations for whole grain consumption are that half of your grains should be whole grains.2 This is because whole grains provide a variety of vitamins and minerals to our diet that play a role in many different metabolic pathways. Some of these vitamins include B vitamins, fiber, zinc, riboflavin and iron (amounts vary depending on type of whole grain consumed).1 With the added veggies and lean protein, these pita pizzas are sure to fuel your day.

Similar Pages

If you love quick and easy recipes like these pita pizzas, check out my Vegetarian Pasta Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette, my Cranberry Chicken Salad, and my Mandarin Orange Salad with Black Beans!

Resources

  1. Chapter 1 Key Elements of Healthy Eating Patterns. A Closer Look Inside Healthy Eating Patterns – 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines. https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/chapter-1/a-closer-look-inside-healthy-eating-patterns/. Accessed July 10, 2020.
  2. Executive Summary. Executive Summary – 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines. https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/executive-summary/. Accessed July 10, 2020.
Pita Pizza, Overhead

Pita Pizza

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Course: brunch, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Keyword: kid friendly, pizza, vegan, vegetarian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Chef Abbie Gellman RD

Ingredients

  • 4 6-inch whole wheat pitas
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • ½ bell pepper julienne (long strips)
  • 1/2 cup shredded Italian blend cheese
  • Optional: ÂĽ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Optional: ÂĽ cup mixed herbs basil, parsley, oregano alone or a mix, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat the broiler to low. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  • Place the pitas on the baking sheet and brush both sides with the oil. Broil 1 to 2 minutes per side.
  • Spread up to ÂĽ cup sauce on each pita. Top the pitas with pepper, cheese, and optional red pepper flakes. Broil again until cheese softens and starts to get golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes, being careful not to burn pita.
  • Remove from broiler and top with herbs.

Video

Notes

Note: other veggies work well too! Just don’t overload the pita or it will not cook well.

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