Healthier Kid-Friendly Recipe: Pizza and Sauce

Delivered or frozen pizzas make a quick meal but they can be loaded with extra calories and unhealthy ingredients.  Try making your own pizza – it’s fun and comes together faster than you’d think. To avoid topping disputes, have the kids make their own!

Pizza Sauce

Makes enough sauce for 8 – 12 small pizzas or 2 large pizzas. Recipe adapted from The Best of America’s Test Kitchen, 2012

Ingredients:

• 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions: 

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Pizza Crust

Makes 4 – 6” pizza crusts or 2 – 12” thin crusts. For healthiest version, use whole wheat flour only. Recipe adapted from Fleischmann’s© Pizza Crust Yeast package.

Pizza Crust Ingredients:

• 1¾ – 2¼ cups whole wheat or white all-purpose flour (or a combination whole wheat & white)
• 1 envelope Fleischmann’s© pizza crust yeast
• 1½ teaspoons sugar
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup very warm water (120° – 130° F)
• 3 tablespoons canola or olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425° F.
2. Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add water and oil.  Mix until well blended (about 1 minute).
3. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour until a soft dough ball is formed (dough will be slightly sticky).
4. Knead on a lightly floured surface, non-stick aluminum foil or parchment paper until smooth and elastic; about 4 minutes. With hands, pat dough out to desired thickness on prepared cooking surface (pizza pan sprayed with cooking oil or squares of heavy duty aluminum foil).  Can also use a rolling pin for a thinner crust.
5. Top pizza with sauce, cheese and favorite toppings (see below for Cook’s Tips)
6. Bake on bottom oven rack for 12-15 minutes until crust browns and cheese is bubbly.

Cook’s Tips

• Keep your pizza healthy by topping it with lean proteins (chicken, turkey), vegetables (mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc.), and/or fruit (pineapple).
• Go light on the cheese: 1-2 ounces of light mozzarella should be enough to cover a 6” pizza.
• A canned or jarred pizza sauce can be substituted for the homemade version.
• A pre-made thin crust, whole grain flat breads and English muffins can be substituted for a homemade crust.