Summer Fresh Recipe Series: Margherita Pita Pizza

Margherita Pita Pizza is a quick and easy weeknight meal that makes use of fresh summer produce!

Margherita Pita Pizza

It's June and time to kick off my Summer Fresh recipe series!  This is where I bring you recipes that include fresh summer produce, and are easy, light, and oh sooooo tasty!

Today the focus is on summer fresh tomatoes and basil.  I can't wait each year until summer so I can get my hands on the freshest tomatoes and pick the basil from my herb garden.  We're keeping it simple today and making personal pizzas using Greek style (no pocket) pitas as the base.  My Margherita Pita Pizzas are so easy to make and are a classic using slices of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, your favorite pizza sauce, and fresh basil.  

These can be baked in the oven or cooked on a grill if you prefer.  They're simple and easy, but very scrumptious.  Great for a weeknight dinner, weekend get-togethers, and easy lunches.  You can even make extra and freeze them for another time.  This is one recipe you'll make on repeat.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• mozzarella cheese - shredded or whole
• tomatoes - choose on the vine, roma, or beefsteak
• fresh basil leaves 
• Greek style pita bread
• Pizza sauce - your favorite brand or make homemade

Substitutions and Variations

• Veggie: Mushrooms, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, onions

• Greek: Kalamata olives, tomatoes, feta cheese, marinated artichoke hearts

• BBQ chicken: Chicken strips or shredded, bbq sauce, cheddar cheese

• Buffalo chicken: Shredded chicken tossed with buffalo sauce, & blue cheese crumbles

• Pesto: Pesto sauce, feta cheese, roasted red peppers

• Hawaiian: Canadian ham & pineapple

• Dessert: Smore's anyone? (marshmallows creme, chocolate chips & crushed graham crackers) or Nutella & strawberries

• Try grilling them instead of baking them in the oven

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Buy the best, freshest ingredients available since your have so few ingredients.

• Leftovers:  may be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in sealed bags or containers.

• Freezer instructions:  Wrap cooked pizza (unsliced) in foil and freeze up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen at 375 F for 25 minutes or until heated through.

Equipment you will need:

• I use this pizza cutter and it works great!
• A good & sturdy sheet pan is a must.
• For easy clean up, use parchment paper.
• For freezing; freezer bags and aluminum foil.
• A favorite pizza sauce...so yummy!

Margherita Pita Pizza

Yield: 4 personal pizzas

4 Greek-style pitas
2 cups pizza sauce

4 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
1 tomato, sliced
1/2 cup basil leaves

Preheat oven to 440 degrees F.

Top each pita with sauce and divide cheese among pizzas. Add sliced tomatoes, then add pizzas to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are golden brown. Remove from oven and top with fresh basil leaves.

Cut in to slices, serve and enjoy!