Here’s how you rethink your plate: a fresh green salad and whole grain pizza all in one meal that you can whip up in 45 minutes. Now that’s quick and delicious eating for even the busiest night of your week! This vegan pizza recipe delivers health and flavor.

 Arugula Salad Pizza Recipe

Makes 8 servings (1 slice each)

Active preparation time: 13 minutes •total preparation time: 45 minutes

 Ingredients

Whole grain pizza dough (see Notes), or one 16-ounce (454 g) package refrigerated whole grain pizza dough, or whole grain pizza dough prepared from a mix
Cornmeal for sprinkling
¹∕³ cup (86 g) marinara sauce
1½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 cup (112 g) shredded plant-based cheese (see Notes)
2 cups (62 g) mixed fresh arugula and baby spinach
1½ cups (224 g) fresh yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
½ medium red bell pepper, diced
1 ripe medium avocado, sliced
¼ cup (31 g) roasted pistachios
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extra–virgin olive oil

 Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Roll out the pizza dough to fit a 14- inch pizza pan or pizza stone. Sprinkle the pan or stone with cornmeal and fit the dough on top.

2.Spread the marinara sauce onto the dough and sprinkle the oregano and plant-based cheese over it. Place the pan or stone in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is golden and firm to the touch.

3.At the last minute before serving, remove the crust from the oven and top with the arugula and spinach, tomatoes, bell pepper, avocado, and pistachios. The greens will wilt quickly.

4.Drizzle with the vinegar and olive oil. Serve immediately.

Notes: You may prepare your own pizza dough following this procedure: Stir together ¾ cup warm (110°F/43°C) water, 1½ teaspoons active dry yeast, and 1 teaspoon honey in a medium bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in 1½ teaspoons extra virgin olive oil and 1¾ cups whole wheat flour. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, then proceed with step 1 of the recipe.

Omit the plant-based cheese, if desired.

 Variation: Substitute other firm greens, such as baby kale or chopped col- lard greens, for the arugula and baby spinach.

Per Serving: 258 calories, 12 g protein, 34 g carbohydrate, 8 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 5 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 466 mg sodium

Star nutrients: vitamin A (11% DV), vitamin C (28% DV), vitamin K (19% DV), calcium (15% DV), iron (11% DV)

 Recipe from “Plant-Powered for Life: Eat Your Way to Lasting Health with 52 Simple Steps and 125 Delicious Recipes“, copyright © Sharon Palmer, 2014. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold.

Photo credit: © Heather Poire

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