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Do you like pizza? Do you like beans? Here's a simple recipe you should try (recipe up front because I hate it when blogs make you scroll for directions, my take at the end).
Cook Time: 45 minutesServings: Servings: 8-10
Ingredients
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil - I eyeball this and typically go a bit heavier1 large onion, chopped - Yellow Onions are best
2 celery stalks, diced
2 large carrots, diced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
4 ounces (115 grams) curly kale leaves, chopped - remove large stems
25oz (550 grams) can crushed tomatoes
2 Cans (455 grams) great northern beans or other large white bean
1/2 pound (225 grams) mozzarella, coarsely grated - I use a standard size bag
1/3 cup (35 grams) grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons (5 grams) roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley for aesthetics
To Taste: Salt and Black Pepper, Optional: Red pepper Flakes
As needed: Vegetable broth
Directions
Prepare the beans (open cans) and chop vegetables: Heat the oven to 475 degrees. In a 2 1/2-to-3-quart (ideally oven-safe) deep sauté pan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil on medium. Add the onion, celery, and carrots.Season well with salt and black pepper. Cook, sautéing, until the vegetables start to brown, about 10 mins. Add garlic, and cook for another minute. Add the red wine vinegar and then simmer another 1-2 minutes. Add the kale, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until collapsed, then add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Add the beans, and, if the mixture looks too dry or thick slowly add vegetable broth to your satisfaction. Simmer the mixture together over medium for about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer to something that is....
Bake: Cover with the mozzarella then the Parmesan and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until browned on top and resembling a pizza.
Add parley or other garnish if desired.
My Comments
We don't eat a whole lot of vegetarian dishes at my house, but we do love Pizza! From the amount of cheese and beans in the mix, this recipe produces a filling and somewhat healthy alternative to America's favorite square meal (Pizza comes in a box after all). Depending on your chopping prowess, you may be able to shave 10 minutes off the total prep time (record for me is around 35 minutes). My Dutch oven doesn't quite fit in our toaster oven, otherwise I suspect you might be able to improve on this even more. I tinker with the recipe from this base pretty often and it takes most things that go well on a pizza in stride. My favorite substitution is garlic salt instead of regular salt for even more vampire killing goodness.Recommended Variations
- Hawaiian - with Pineapple and Ham
- Salsa Paradise - with yellow/orange bell peppers, double the garlic and onion
- Mighty Meaty - Pepperoni, Ham, and Bacon bits