Enjoy a delicious, colorful, and healthy vegetable pizza with a crispy crust, rich tomato sauce, and fresh toppings. Perfect for a quick dinner or a weekend treat!

Ingredients

For the Pizza Dough:

• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt

For the Pizza Sauce:

• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

For the Toppings:

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup bell peppers, thinly sliced (red, yellow, or green)
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and olive oil.
3. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

2. Make the Pizza Sauce:

1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper.
4. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.

3. Assemble the Pizza:

1. Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, preheat it as well.
2. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch circle.
3. Transfer to a greased baking sheet or pizza stone.
4. Spread an even layer of pizza sauce over the dough.
5. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese, followed by bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and black olives.
6. Add red pepper flakes if desired.

4. Bake the Pizza:

1. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
2. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
3. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, slice, and serve hot.

Tips:

• Customize your pizza with other veggies like spinach, zucchini, or artichokes.
• For extra crispiness, bake directly on a preheated pizza stone.
• Make it vegan by using dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast.

This homemade vegetable pizza is fresh, flavorful, and easy to make. Enjoy every cheesy, veggie-packed bite!