SAVORY SUMMER PIZZAS!!

I LOVE pizza... I honestly don't know many people who don't. I enjoy easy, but delicious pizza recipes that can be made in about 30 minutes or less. These recipes are perfect for a girls night or a weeknight when you don't want to spend a lot of time cooking. They can be paired with a nice glass of wine as well!

SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM PIZZA

Ingredients:

For the sauce -

•         1 small clove garlic, crushed
•         2 green onions, chopped
•         1 tbsp olive oil
•         1 tbsp whole wheat flour
•         ½ cup unsweetened soy milk
•         Pinch salt & pepper

For the toppings -

•         6 button mushrooms, sliced
•         12 asparagus, shaved (use a vegetable peeler)
•         75g low fat mozzarella cheese, grated
•         25g Emmental cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 500F.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add green onions, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add flour and whisk to combine. Slowly pour in milk and whisk until sauce becomes thick and “smooth” and flour is fully cooked, about 2 minutes. Feel free to add a little bit more milk if you feel the sauce is too thick, but keep in mind that you do want it to be on the thick side. A sauce that is too thin will result in soggy pizza dough.
4. Spread “béchamel” sauce and top with half the mushrooms, then add mozzarella cheese, shaved asparagus, followed by the rest of the mushrooms and finally Emmental cheese.
5. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and starts to color on the edge.

LEEK, MUSHROOM AND BACON PIZZA

Ingredients:

For the sauce -

•         1 1/2 tablespoons butter
•         1 1/2 tablespoons flour
•         1 cup milk
•         few grates of fresh nutmeg

For the toppings -

•         1 leek, chopped and cleaned
•         1 tablespoon butter
•         1 tablespoon olive oil
•         fresh mushrooms, sliced
•         1/2 pound bacon, diced and cooked
•         1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
•         1 cup freshly grated gruyere

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 475F.
2. Make the sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute or two. Whisk in the milk and grate in a bit of nutmeg. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
3. Prepare the toppings: Add the butter and olive oil to a large sauté pan. Add the leeks and cook for a few minutes. Add in the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms have cooked down.Put the pizza together:Spread the sauce on the pizza, leaving a 1/2-1-inch border. Top with the leeks and mushrooms, then the bacon. Sprinkle the top of the pizza with the Parmesan and Gruyere. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the crust has browned and the cheeses are melted and bubbly.

ROASTED GARLIC, CHICKEN and HERB WHITE PIZZA

Ingredients:

•         1 pound pizza dough
•         1 tablespoons butter
•         8 cloves roasted garlic, minced
•         2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•         ½ teaspoons black pepper
•         ½ cup skim milk
•         ¼ cup half and half
•         ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
•         1½ cup boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and shredded
•         ¼ cup red onion, diced
•         ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese
•         1 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
•         ½ teaspoons dried oregano
•         1 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Prepare a baking sheet with a liner, or grease and sprinkle with cornmeal.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Sauté roasted garlic for 1 minute. Add flour, and mix until well blended. Cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and half and half. Mix in the pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat, and stir in Parmesan cheese.
4. Spread dough into roughly a 12 inch circle on prepared baking sheet. Spread white sauce over the dough. Top with chicken, red onions and cheese. Bake for 17 minutes, or until the crust is golden, and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with herbs. Cut and serve immediately.