Mediterranean Pizza

This easy, healthy Mediterranean Pizza recipe is a great weeknight dinner and will be sure to please anyone who wants a wholesome, unique and hearty pizza full of fresh ingredients!

The combination of wholesome, bright and aromatic ingredients creates a Mediterranean pizza with vibrant flavors and a distinct flair. This recipe is a delicious and refreshing variation of the classic pizza style and is perfect for anyone following the Mediterranean diet. It makes a delicious and hearty vegetarian pizza dinner any time of the week!

Just as we change up our traditional cheesy quesadillas to this healthy Mediterranean version, we love doing the same with our pizza. And with homemade bread we make a fantastic Mediterranean-style feta and olive bread.

And although there is nothing wrong with a cheesy traditional pizza, especially for those like me who could pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a Mediterranean pizza is a lovely change. And one that you can feel good about eating!

Ingredients

Mediterranean pizza is full of fresh, flavorful and healthy ingredients.

• Pizza dough: store bought pizza dough or make your own. I make both a thick crust and New York style crust in my bread machine, and a thin crust pizza dough by hand. You can also use any other flatbread rather than pizza dough and follow my instructions for making flatbread pizza here.
• Feta cheese crumbles: this salty cheese is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine and completes the pizza with a zesty
• Mozzarella cheese: this pizza recipe goes a little lighter on the cheese so the vegetables and aromatic seasonings really shine.
• Pizza sauce: while many Mediterranean pizza recipes don't use a tomato-based sauce, I do use a very little bit layered underneath the toppings. I love this easy no-cook pizza sauce. If you prefer not to, you can brush the dough base with olive oil or even a little bit of hummus or white sauce. Using olive oil as your "sauce" will make a more authentic recipe.
• Olive oil: extra virgin olive oil is what I use and is abundantly used in the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is lightly drizzled over the pizza just before cooking.
• Fresh tomatoes: fresh sliced roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or any other tomato works.
• Kalamata olives: these reddish purple olives have a robust flavor profile that can be described as tangy, salty, and slightly bitter with fruity notes.
• Black olives: black olives are relatively mild in taste, especially compared to kalamata or green olives. They are slightly salty and savory.
• Spinach: use fresh spinach leaves, not frozen spinach.
• Red onion: if you don't have red onion you can go with a yellow or sweet onion.
• Sea salt: a tiny bit of sea salt is sprinkled onto the pizza along with the olive oil at the very end, right before cooking.

More Mediterranean Pizza Topping Options

Customize your Mediterranean pizza with some of these other tasty topping options:

• arugula
• artichoke hearts
• basil or other fresh herbs
• bell peppers
• broccoli florets
• garlic cloves (or roasted garlic)
• sun-dried tomatoes
• zucchini

Instructions

STEP 1: With the pizza stone or large baking sheet in the oven, preheat the oven to 525℉. Press the tomato slices between paper towels to remove some of the moisture.

STEP 2: Prepare the pizza dough according to the package instructions. Shape the dough on parchment paper, pressing down on the center to leave the outer crust slightly raised until you've formed a 12-14 inch circle.

STEP 3: Evenly brush pizza sauce on the center of the dough. Sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese. Layer with dried tomato slices, black olives, kalamata olives, red onion slices and fresh spinach leaves. Top with feta cheese crumbles, a drizzle of olive oil and the sea salt. Very lightly brush the outer crust ridge with pizza sauce. You can also sprinkle the pizza with a handful of dried herbs, like thyme, oregano and basil if desired. About 1 or 2 tablespoons total will do.

STEP 4: Using a pizza peel, carefully transfer the prepared pizza to the pizza stone or baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and just begins to brown.

STEP 5: Remove the cooked pizza using the pizza peel and let cool for a few minutes before slicing into 8 pieces and serving.

How To Store Pizza

Store pizza in the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap or foil for up to 7 days. To freeze pizza, wrap each slice individually in freezer-safe plastic wrap or place into storage baggies. Freeze for up tp 6 months. Reheat directly from frozen in the oven or air fryer, or thaw in the fridge overnight and warm in the microwave.

Tips For Making An Amazing Mediterranean Pizza

• Dry tomatoes between paper towels for about 5 minutes to release any moisture so it doesn't create a soggy crust on your delicious pizza.
• Brush the crust with a little bit of sauce to get a beautiful golden brown and flavorful crust. This really takes the pizza to the next level, especially if you are a crust eater!
• Sprinkle the pizza with a bit of dried herbs for extra zing. Thyme, oregano, parsley and basil will give it more Mediterranean flair.
• Cook at a high temperature for a shorter time rather than a low temperature for a longer time. Not only does a high temperature create a crispy crust, it minimizes the time that the toppings are exposed to heat. This helps preserve the freshness and vibrant flavors of the toppings, preventing them from becoming mushy or overcooked.
• Preferably, cook the pizza directly on the preheated pizza stone. It can take a lot practice to learn how to transfer the uncooked pizza from the pizza peel to the stone without using parchment paper. It's tricky! But if you can do it, you'll end up with an even more flavorful crust as it cooks directly on the seasoned stone.

Recipe FAQs

Enjoy!

Recipe