Deep Dish Pesto Pizza

Hot and fresh from the oven!

This deep dish pesto pizza recipe kinda came about while looking for something to whip up for dinner one night. My daughter suggested the pesto part by writing it on one of the chalk boards in my kitchen. That sort of got the whole thing rolling. I used it as an opportunity to use up some zucchini, mushrooms, and onions. The whole thing is topped off with a blend of feta and mozzarella cheese! 
​Click "Read More" for the details...

The kids write their meal requests on my chalkboard.

Gently stretch the dough over the sides of the springform pan, while pressing the dough evenly into the bottom and sides of the pan...

Generously brush the bottom and sides with pesto. Add some feta cheese...

Sautee the veggies, and add them to the pan...

Toss in some grated mozzarella and gather up the sides. Place some more cheese on top...

Fresh from the oven...

Look at that cheese!

Deep Dish Pesto Pizza

You will need 1 batch of my pizza dough for this recipe. HERE is the link to the recipe!

1/2 to 3/4 cup           pesto (your favorite brand)
1-2                              sliced zucchini squash 
1                                  large sliced onion
1-2 cups                     sliced mushrooms
1-2 cloves                  minced garlic
2 tsp                           dried Italian seasoning or fresh herbs
                                    salt and pepper to taste 
                               
2 cups                        shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup                          crumbled feta cheese
                                    
Directions:

Cook the garlic and all of the the other vegetables in a pan with a bit of butter or olive oil and seasonings until the onion has caramelized. Set aside to cool...

Once your dough is ready, you can begin the assembly...(See the pics above.)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F...

Carefully stretch your dough, and press it into the bottom and sides of a large springform pan (see the pic above)...

Generously brush the bottom and sides of everything with your favorite pesto...

Toss in some feta cheese and a bit of mozzarella. Not too much. Remember there is more to be added to the top...

Evenly distribute the cooked and cooled vegetables across the bottom of the dough...

Cover everything with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella and feta cheeses. Remember to reserve some cheese for the top. It toasts to a beautiful golden brown as it cooks!

Gently pinch and gather up the dough toward the center of the pie...

Sprinkle the top with a bit of the cheeses that you reserved add a pinch of fresh or dried herbs over the top and place it in the hot oven...

Bake for 30 - 45 minutes or until everything is hot and bubbling with a nice toasty top!

Allow to cool just a bit before releasing the sides of the springform pan...

​Enjoy with your family and friends!
-Chop




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