Bruschetta Pizza

As a military wife there are plenty of times I find myself eating dinner solo.

Deployments, TAD's, TDY's (same thing?), FEX's...you get the point.  (If you have no idea what those acronyms mean, you must not be a military spouse).  There are seemingly endless reasons why I have gotten really good at cooking for one.

Dinners for one need to be simple.  On those nights when Brian is away, that's my chance to indulge in sappy Lifetime movies or Rom-Com's from Netflix (better yet, 1980's Rom-Com's from Netflix - Can't Buy Me Love, anyone?!).  I don't have time for braising meats, deglazing a pan or reducing a sauce.

 

Dinners for one need to be healthy.  Eating alone is no excuse for eating junk.  Never ever.

Dinners for one need to be delicious and fresh.  There is nothing more depressing than re-heating the same leftovers three nights in a row because you made way too much for one person.

I came up with this Bruschetta Pizza For One on one of those nights when I wanted something that fit all of those criteria.  Simple, healthy, delicious, fresh.  Check.

Pizza for one can be simple if you use pre-made pizza dough from the grocery store (I like Trader Joe's). Just rip off a small piece of dough (about 1/2 the size of your fist) from the 1-pound dough ball.  That should give you the perfect size portion for one.  (When working with prepared dough, always let it sit out at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before trying to work with it).  Then, just roll or press it out on a floured surface so it's thin.  I recommend baking the raw dough, brushed with garlic oil, on a pre-heated baking stone for 5 minutes before topping it.

Trader Joe's Garlic Naan makes a delicious pizza crust for one!  I also like Trader Joe's Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing.

If you prefer not to use pizza dough (or to save yourself one step in the recipe), try using a piece of garlic Naan bread, an Indian flatbread.  I've seen it by the deli at the grocery store or Trader Joe's sells it frozen in a resealable package.  Just pull a piece from the freezer, brush it with a little olive oil and you're set, no need to thaw it first.  Pita bread would also work, as a substitute.

I've made this pizza several times with both the Naan and the pizza dough.  I can't say I prefer one or the other - both are delicious, easy to work with and compliment this recipe beautifully.

Bruschetta toppings

Pesto + Balsamic Vinaigrette "pizza sauce"

Ready to bake

Bruschetta Pizza for One
serves 1
an original recipe

1 3-4 oz piece of pizza dough, rolled or pressed thin OR 1 slice of garlic Naan bread
extra virgin olive oil
1 heaping tablespoon prepared pesto
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
3 tablespoons diced fresh tomato (about 3-4 diced cherry tomatoes, 1/3 of a medium tomato or about 1 Roma tomato)
2 tablespoons diced red onion
1 garlic clove, finely minced
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
fresh basil, torn or thinly sliced (optional)

Preheat a baking stone in the middle of the oven to 400 degrees for 30 minutes while you prepare your pizza ingredients.

(Pick up with the next step if using frozen or fresh Naan bread).  If using raw pizza dough:  press the dough into a thin (1/4-1/2'' thick) circle on a well-floured surface.  Brush dough with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  Par bake the pizza dough on the pre-heated baking stone for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven.

In a small bowl, stir together the pesto and the balsamic vinaigrette.  Add the diced tomato, onion and minced garlic to the bowl and toss in the pesto-vinaigrette.

Transfer the entire contents of the bowl onto the par-cooked pizza dough or the Naan bread and spread it out to cover the surface of the bread.  Top the pizza with the crumbled feta.  Transfer the pizza onto the baking stone in the center of the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven when the crust is cooked, slightly brown on the bottom and the feta is just barely melting.  Top with the basil.