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Rustic Vegetable-Stuffed Pizza

17/11/2023

I can describe how to prepare a rustic vegetable-stuffed pizza. This dish is a classic of Italian home cooking, ideal for a complete meal or an outdoor picnic. Below you will find the ingredients and preparation method.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of pizza dough or shortcrust pastry
  • 300 g of fresh or frozen spinach
  • 1 medium zucchini
  • 1 red or yellow bell pepper
  • 1 small eggplant
  • 1 small onion
  • 150 g of ricotta cheese
  • 100 g of mozzarella cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil as needed
  • Burrata or feta cheese, for an extra touch (optional)
  • Aromatic herbs such as basil or oregano (optional)

Preparation

  1. If you are using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze out the excess water. If using fresh spinach, wash and blanch it in slightly salted water for a few minutes, then squeeze out the water.
  2. Finely slice the onion and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of oil until it becomes translucent. Add the thinly sliced zucchini rounds, the bell pepper, and the eggplant cut into small cubes. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Add the spinach and cook for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. In a bowl, mix the ricotta with the eggs until you get a homogeneous mixture. Add the mixture of cooked vegetables, the diced mozzarella, and, if desired, the chopped aromatic herbs.
  4. Roll out half of the pizza or shortcrust pastry in a round baking dish slightly greased with oil, creating high edges.
  5. Pour the vegetable filling inside and level it with a spatula.
  6. Cover with the remaining rolled-out dough and seal the edges well. Make some cuts on the surface to allow steam to escape during cooking.
  7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C (356 °F) for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface is golden.
  8. Let it cool slightly before cutting and serving.

For an extra touch of creaminess, you can add some pieces of burrata or feta on the filling before covering with the second layer of dough.

Fun Fact

The rustic vegetable-stuffed pizza is a versatile dish that lends itself to numerous variations; some add cooked ham or bacon to enrich the flavor. In some Italian regions, this preparation is called “savory pie” or “vegetable pie” and can be enriched with different seasonal vegetables.