Recipe of the Month: Rainbow Pizza
Did you know that many vegetables have nutrients that boost immunity, and can even keep illnesses like the common cold and flu at bay? We all know when one of the children get sick, it’s not long until the whole family follows, so immunity boosting properties are just one more reason to pack in the veggies.
We understand that for many parents, getting children to eat and enjoy veggies is an endless struggle. To help you get more nutrients and vitamins into your child’s diet, we have an easy recipe that takes veggie pizza to a whole new level. Children love picking their own pizza toppings and helping to decorate the pizza! By making dinner interactive, children are encouraged to eat the final result.
What You Will Need:
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Olive oil
- 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 medium orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen yellow corn kernels
- 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into small pieces
This recipe is very versatile, and veggies can be changed depending on different preferences and whatever is in season.
How To Make It:
- Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 450°F. Let the pizza dough sit out a room temperature while the oven heats.
- Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, dried basil, salt, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl; set aside.
- Lightly grease a rolling pin with olive oil. Roll out the pizza dough to fit a standard 13×18-inch rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet, and then use your fingers to gently press the dough into the corners of the pan.
- Spread the cheese mixture over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. Arrange the vegetables in a rainbow pattern on top of the cheese. Drizzle with olive oil, or coat the veggies with a thin layer of cooking spray.
- Bake until the edges are golden-brown, 16 to 20 minutes. Let the pizza cool for 1 to 2 minutes before cutting into slices and serving. Leftover pizza can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Bonny Babes Child Care Centres encourage children with opportunities to experience a healthy, balanced and nutritious menu through our provided daily meals by Kids Gourmet Food, and daily education program. We work with families to ensure we meet the nutritional needs of each child within the centre, so we encourage parents to keep up the good work in introducing veggies and fruits to the little ones’ diets.
Recipe sourced from The Kitchn