Healthy Recipes: Margherita Pizza

Tonight is college football night so I thought you might enjoy this simple yet delicious Margherita Pizza recipe. What better way to watch the game than with a warm slice of homemade pizza!

INGREDIENTS:

Thin Crust:

3 cups Whole wheat pastry flour

3 ½ cups All purpose flour

1 ½ tablespoons Yeast, dry active

1 ½ tablespoons Salt

3 cups Water, warmed to 90 degrees (no higher than 110 degrees)

Pizza Toppings

12 each Tomatoes, sliced thin

9 ounces Mozzarella, fresh sliced thin

1 cup Parmesan, shredded

2 cups Basil, sliced

¼ cup Olive oil

PREPARATION:

Crust Instructions:

• Combine whole wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, yeast and salt in a bowl. Mix well.


• Slowly add water to dry mix.


• In a stand-mixer, combine ingredients until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.


• Remove from mixer; sit in a warm environment and allow to rise for 1.5-2 hours.


• Divide dough into 3 equal balls. Form each dough ball into a pizza round.


• Let rise for another 10 minutes.

Pizza Instructions:

• Brush olive oil on crust.


• Place tomatoes and mozzarella on crust.


• Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.


• Garnish with basil.

NUTRITION:

Servings: 3 small pizzas

Calories: 210

Carbohydrates: 15 grams

Sodium: 260 milligrams

Fiber: 2 grams

Protein:  10 grams

Healthy Recipes: Whole Wheat Fig Pizza

INGREDIENTS:

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

1 Tablespoon Sugar

1 ½ cups Water, warm 110°F

1 Tablespoon Dry active yeast

1 Tablespoon Olive oil

1 teaspoon Salt

2 cups Whole wheat flour

1 ½ cups All-purpose flour

Fig Pizza Toppings

1 cup Onions, julienned, and caramelized

1 cup Fresh figs, quartered

3 cups Spinach, fresh

1 cup Crimini mushrooms

½ cup Monterey jack cheese

¼ cup Feta cheese

1 Tablespoon Turkey bacon

2 Tablespoons Balsamic reduction for top of pizza.

PREPARATION:

• Dilute sugar into warm water.


• Add the yeast.  It is important to make sure the water is not over 110°F or it will kill the yeast. The yeast will foam a little, which is normal


• Then add salt and olive oil to the water-yeast mixture.


• In mixing bowl, place both flours.


• With dough hook attached to mixer, turn mixer to medium speed.


• Add water and yeast mixture slowly.


• Mix dough until all the flour has been scraped from the sides. It’s important to not over work your dough.


• Once the dough is ready, sprinkle a little extra flour on a clean work surface and roll dough out on counter.


• Place dough in lightly sprayed bowl and cover with dish towel.


• Allow to rise for about 1 to 1 ½ hours, in a warm area. Over the stove is usually a good area, or place on your door step if it’s warm outside.

Serves: 10 slices

Calories: 210 per slice

Fiber: 4 grams

Carbohydrates: 22 grams

Sodium: 187 milligrams

Protein: 4 grams

H3 Recipe: BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

 

INGREDIENTS:

 4 each            Whole wheat pita bread

2 each            Red onions, cut thin, and caramelized in sauté pan

1 1/3 c.           Bell peppers, mixed colors, julienned or chopped (1/3 c./pita)

½ c.                 H3 BBQ sauce (about 2 T. / pizza)

1 c.                  Part skim mozzarella cheese, (1/4 c. / pizza)

8 oz.                Chicken breast, cleaned, grilled, and chopped small (2oz/pizza)

PREPARATION:

• Preheat oven to 375


• Grease sheet pan with pan spray


• Layout pitas  on sheet pan


• Ladle 2 ounces  of sauce over pita and spread


• Spread out caramelized red onions over pizza about ¼ cup each


• Then mixed peppers, chicken breast, and mozzarella cheese.

 Chef’s Note:  The calorie count may vary depending on the type and size of pita used.  Be sure to pick whole wheat versus multi-grain, as they tent to be the same size and lower in calories than multi-grain.  To up the filling effect, and add a serving of vegetables, add fresh spinach to the bottom before layering other ingredients on top.   

This recipe does great in toaster ovens, so if only cooking for one, that’s the way to go!

 

Serving Size:                       1

Calories:                               325

Fat Grams                             5

A Healthier Pizza Night

In a cooking demonstration by H3 Chef Marvis Hinson last week, she made the following statement, “Whenever I eat homemade pizza, I am satisfied after one slice, but when I order out from the local pizza joint, it takes half the pie.”

 

A proclaimed pizza lover, I jump at the chance to hit up the local pizza joint.  However, this comment struck a chord, and had me craving a pizza pie.  So, instead of dining out on Friday night, I decided to experiment and create my own pizza masterpiece.

 

Turns out, she was right!  Not only was I more satisfied after just two slices of my homemade veggie pizza, I had fun in the process.  Turning the time in the kitchen into a get together with friends kept me from snacking, but also gave me a chance to catch up on the week’s events. 

 

Here are a few reasons why you should opt out of delivery:

 

- Making your own pizza is fun!  Perfect for a weekend activity, and if you have kids, they will love getting to help personalize their own pizza.  Cooking the pizza yourself makes you appreciate it more when it’s done.  I think that’s why we feel satisfied after just a bit. 

 

- Eating healthy can still taste good.  Our homemade pizza included a crispy whole wheat crust and three servings of veggies! 

 

- When cooking at home, not only can you limit fat and calories, but more importantly hidden sodium!  Here at H3, we recommend limiting sodium to 2300 mg for a typical adult eating 2000 calories daily.  If you are on a lower calorie diet, limit accordingly.  For example, someone on a 1600 calorie diet, limit to 2000 mg and 1200 calories limiting to 1800 mg sodium. 

Look at these nutrition facts from America’s most popular pizza delivery:

                One slice of Supreme Pizza from Pizza Hut = 1000 mg of sodium (380 calories, 18 g of Fat)

                One slice of Meat Lovers from Pizza Hut = 1270 mg of sodium (440 calories, 23 g of Fat)

Each of the two slices above hold half the sodium content for your daily intake – eat two of each and you have put yourself over that limit! 

 

- You can personalize your own pizza and add your favorite toppings!  When building my pizza Friday, I re-created my usual veggie pizza from my favorite local pizza joint.  It turned out perfect – adding the same toppings made it feel as though I had ordered out!

 

Ready to make your own?  Read more for tips to building your ‘best’ pizza pie.