This is a variation of our pizza base recipe. Roasted red peppers add a sweet and smoky flavor, while the arugula adds freshness and brightness! Make this delicious roasted red pepper pizza with arugula for your next pizza night!
Three Must-Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Red Pepper Pizza
Try making homemade pizza dough! If you don’t have time to make your own, see if you can buy raw dough from your favorite pizza shop or a local grocery store. Look for a true dough ball –not the kind in a tube.
Stretch your pizza dough on a piece of parchment paper for easy transfer to the oven and quick clean-up. You can also use cornmeal underneath the dough to help it not stick to the pan or stone. Use a generous amount of cornmeal if using this method.
A pizza stone is truly the best way to make a crispy crust pizza. If you are a pizza lover and enjoy making your own, it is definitely worth the investment.
Although you can use store bought roasted red peppers, roasting bell peppers at home just takes a few simple steps, and is far less expensive!
To roast a fresh red bell pepper:
- Preheat oven to 425ºF.
- Place red bell pepper on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Roast, turning occasionally, until the pepper skin blisters on all sides, about 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and wrap the foil around the pepper to generate steam. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
- Remove skin and seeds from bell pepper, then slice into desired width.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Pizza Dough: substitute a cauliflower crust, gluten-free crust, pre-made crust, etc. Prepare according to manufacturer’s instructions. You can also make a roasted red pepper pizza flatbread by substituting naan, pita, or a pre-made flatbread.
- Marinara Sauce: use a classic marinara sauce or substitute crushed tomatoes seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh or dried basil. Substitute pesto to make an arugula pesto pizza.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: substitute shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese. You could also substitute half of the mozzarella with goat cheese for a delicious arugula goat cheese pizza.
- Red Bell Pepper: substitute jarred roasted red bell pepper. Fresh red bell pepper also works, but note the flavor will be different. Roasted orange or yellow bell pepper would also be delicious. We don’t recommend substituting green bell peppers, as the flavor is not as sweet!
- Balsamic Vinegar: use an aged balsamic vinegar for best flavor. You can also substitute red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar mixed together with a touch of honey.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: substitute avocado oil or an infused olive oil.
- Arugula: substitute shredded lacinato kale, baby kale, or chopped spinach.
Arugula Balsamic Pizza Variations
Add more vegetables or fruits for even more color, nutrition, and flavor! Mushroom arugula pizza, arugula fig pizza, or even arugula pear pizza would all be unique and tasty variations!
This is a vegetarian arugula pizza, but feel free to add small amounts of meat for a more flavorful or indulgent meal. Prosciutto arugula pizza is a delicious variation!
Want some more pizza recipe inspiration?
Use our homemade pizza base recipe as a guide, or try out these tasty variations!
Equipment Recommendations
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Is Mediterranean Roasted Red Pepper Pizza Healthy?
Pizza gets a bad rap for being unhealthy, but homemade pizza is nothing like the kind that is delivered. By building your own, you control the ingredients and can create a pizza that is much lower in saturated fat and sodium than popular fast food pizza chains. This pizza features roasted red bell peppers, mozzarella cheese, and arugula.
Roasted Red Bell Pepper
Red bell peppers are a great source of disease-fighting phytonutrients and vitamins A & C. Different colored vegetables provide different phytonutrients, so consuming a variety of colors is ideal.
Mozzarella Cheese
Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein which are important for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. While research is currently challenging the belief that full-fat dairy products are harmful, cheese is high in saturated fat, so we suggest trying to limit how much you eat until we know more. Try to stick to the suggested amount in the recipe.
Arugula
Leafy greens, like arugula, not only add a pop of freshness and great flavor to a dish, but they add nutrition too! Leafy green vegetables are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that promote health and help fight diseases.
A Note on Pizza Dough
We make our own homemade Italian pizza dough with 00 wheat flour. Not sure what to think about gluten? Learn all about it in this article!
Learn more about health benefits of different foods in our book, To Your Taste!
Serving Suggestions
Start your meal with a large side salad, and then serve a side of roasted vegetables with the pizza for a beautiful Whole Life Plate.
How to Store Homemade Arugula Pizza
If you have leftovers, cool completely, then store in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Leftover pizza can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
To reheat, place your pizza on a pan and place in an oven while it is preheating to 350°F. Once it hits 350°F, your pizza should be warmed and ready!
Looking for a marinara sauce or pizza dough recipe?
Look no further! Try these tried and true recipes!
Roasted Red Pepper Pizza with Arugula
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough round (8-10 ounces)
- ¼ cup marinara sauce
- 4-ounces fresh mozzarella cheese ball, thinly sliced
- ½ cup sliced roasted red bell pepper
- 1 Tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups fresh arugula
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
Pizza Stone Instructions
- Place pizza stone on bottom rack of oven. Preheat oven to 500° F. Heat one hour before cooking for the crispiest crust.
- Stretch pizza dough into a 12” circle on a piece of parchment paper. Spread marinara sauce onto the crust leaving a 1” border around the rim. Cover with mozzarella cheese slices. Sprinkle roasted red pepper slices on top.
- Using a pizza peel, slide pizza with parchment paper onto stone. If you don’t have a pizza peel, a baking sheet without a rim or an upside down baking sheet will work. Cook 6-7 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and crust begins to turn golden brown.
- While the pizza is cooking, place balsamic and olive oil in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add arugula and toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove pizza from oven and top with arugula. Allow pizza to cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!
If you don't have a pizza stone:
- Preheat oven to 500ºF.
- Stretch pizza dough into a 12” circle on a piece of parchment paper*. Spread marinara sauce onto the crust leaving a 1” border around the rim. Cover with mozzarella cheese slices. Sprinkle roasted red pepper on top.
- Place pizza and parchment paper onto your pan. Cook 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and crust begins to turn golden brown.
- While the pizza is cooking, place balsamic and olive oil in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add arugula and toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove pizza from oven and top with arugula. Allow pizza to cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!
