Tomato Basil Pizza with Peppers and Mushrooms

Pizza is something I can definitely eat too much of! Right now my stomach hurts from eating too many slices! Tomato Basil pizza is my all-time favorite kind. It is even better with fresh red bell peppers and mushrooms! I have never made homemade pizza dough before, so it was a learning experience for me. This recipe comes from “The Pioneer Woman Cook’s: Recipes From an Accidental Country Girl” cookbook. Enjoy!

To make the pizza crust: Sprinkle yeast over warm water.

With an electric mixer on low, combine flour and salt and drizzle in olive oil until just incorporated.

Mix until the dough forms a ball. Drizzle olive oil into a clean bowl. Toss the ball of dough in the bowl and turn over to coat in oil. Cover and refrigerate dough for 1-2 hours, or up to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Lightly drizzle olive oil on a pizza pan or rimmed baking sheet. Using your hands, stretch the dough into the desired shape, pressing the dough into the pan with your fingers, the thinner the better.

Spread the prepared pesto sauce over the crust.

Place a layer of sliced mozzarella over the pesto. Top with sliced tomatoes, bell peppers, and mushrooms.

Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake pizza for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.

Cut into slices and top with fresh basil.

Tomato Basil Pizza with Peppers and Mushrooms
Ingredients
1 Pizza crust recipe* (see recipe below)
1 jar prepared pesto sauce
8 oz Fresh Mozzarella, sliced
3 Roma Tomatoes
1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced and sauteed
Fresh Button Mushrooms, sliced and sauteed
Fresh Basil Leaves
Parmesan Cheese, grated

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
2. Press the the pizza dough into a sheet pan or pizza stone lightly drizzled with olive oil.
3. Smear pesto sauce over the pizza dough.
4. Slice the mozzarella thin enough to cover the pizza thoroughly.
5. Next, lay thin slices of Roma tomatoes over the mozzarella.
6. Saute mushrooms and bell pepper slices and layer over the tomatoes.
7. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted, and crust is golden brown.
9. Slice and top with fresh basil leaves.

Makes 1 pizza

*Pizza Crust
Ingredients
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 cups warm water
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp plus 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Directions
1. Pour warm water into a bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the water.
2. Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. With an electric mixer on low speed, drizzle in the olive oil until just incorporated.
4. In a separate bowl, gently stir the yeast/water mixer and drizzle it into the flour/oil mixture. Mix until the dough forms a ball.
5. Drizzle a little olive oil into a clean bowl. Toss the ball of dough in the bowl and turn over to coat in oil.
6. Cover the bowl with a moist towel and set in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Makes 1 pizza crust