Easy Vegetarian Pizza 

---

Serves: 4 person(s)

Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 15 mins

Mmmm, try this mouth-watering pizza with a light, crunchy base!
Per serving: 133 calories, 4g fat and 7g carbs
Saves: 316 calories, 22g fat and 25g carbs over traditional cheese pizzas!

Suggestions:

If using fresh tomatoes, place in a bowl and pour boiling water over. Allow to stand 1 to 2 minutes. Drain tomatoes and plunge into cold water. Skin should readily peel off.

Ingredients:

Traditional cheese pizza is high in calories and fat, particularly when "stuffed". Our recipe makeover lowers calories by replacing the thick crust with pita bread and using a smaller amount of cheese.

To learn more about recipe makeovers see CalorieKing's library article "Smart Substitutes: Your Guide to Low-Calorie Cooking Alternatives".

Recipe Makeover
10 1/2 oz tomatoes, fresh or canned 3 green onions (shallots), chopped 1 small green bell pepper, chopped 1/4 tsp dried basil 1/4 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp tomato paste 1 pita bread round, large 1 1/2 oz raw mushrooms, chopped 3 jars of artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained 1/2 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 oz)

Traditional Recipe
1 can (28 oz) tomato pureé 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp basil 1 garlic cloved, chopped 1 frozen pizza crust 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Chop tomatoes roughly. Put tomatoes, green onions, bell pepper, spices and tomato paste in a non-stick skillet.

Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Allow mixture to cool.

Spread cooled mixture over bread. Add layer of mushroom and chopped artichokes. Top with shredded cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven. Serve hot.

Variations:

Non-Vegetarian Pizza: Add chopped anchovies (6 thin fillets adds 15 calories per serving) or 2 slices lean ham, chopped (adds 20 calories per serving) to the topping.

Serving suggestions and garnishes not included in recipe analysis.

Author:

Recipe Makeover by Family Health Network