Zucchini Pizza with Cherry Tomatoes and Feta Cheese

I typically make my pizzas with sliced heirloom tomatoes, basil, and a small amount of mozzarella cheese, so I decided to be adventurous tonight and make something new. I love Zucchini, I love basil, and I especially love tomatoes, so this recipe jumped out at my immediately. The think I liked most was that it doesn’t call for a sauce. The combined ingredients just melt together to make a sauce of it’s own.

I’ve already made the dough (Homemade Pizza Dough) so I’m letting that sit while I get everything else prepped. I also set the oven to 500 degrees, because this is a quick flash bake since there isn’t a juicy sauce to battle when baking the bread.

Sautéing garlic is probably one of my favorite smells ever, and something that should always be done prior to sautéing vegetables of any kind, in my opinion at least. Adding the Zucchini gives the smell a more robust twinge, but the blend together is aromatic and quickly filling my kitchen.

While the zucchini is cooking the rest of the ingredients are finding their way into a mixing bowl, waiting patiently to be layered and baked. I’m leaving the garlic is slightly larger pieces so that the flavor will be more of a kick once the pizza’s done baking, but finely chopping it definitely works well too.

This pizza has beautiful flavors and a beautiful finish. Guaranteed to shine. The greatest part is that the logic behind the layering really gives it the depth and color that it needs. The first layer consists of the mozzarella topped with veggies.

The second layer is the feta (or goat cheese depending on what you’ve chosen to use), and the remaining basil. The greens pop against the red of the tomatoes, and the not yet melted feta adds depth that screams gourmet.

Next time I’d use more garlic, but other wise, this pizza inspires me to get creative. I see artichokes, spinach, even asparagus.

1 12 in round of pizza dough

3 small-medium zucchini, sliced into thin rounds

5 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered

8-10 basil leaves, divided

2-4 ounces mozzarella (to taste)

2-4 ounces feta cheese (to taste)

5 cloves garlic, minced and divided

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Make pizza dough and set aside (Homemade Pizza Dough)

Sautee zucchini and half of garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Toss tomatoes, half of the basil, rest of garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Layer mozzarella, zucchini, and tomato basil mix.

Bake for 5 minutes at 500 degrees.

Take out and add feta and remaining basil.

Bake for another 5-7 minutes.

Let cool and serve.