Broccoli is a vegetable our family eats often since we all like it. If I served it at dinner, no one complained about having to eat it. While it may not have been a requirement for Gilbert’s becoming part of our family, it helps that he also likes the veggie. With its impressive nutritional profile, broccoli is a powerhouse of health benefits. The only problem I have with this verdant vegetable is growing it!
It was thirty years ago this summer that I planted my first garden. Broccoli was the primary vegetable I wanted to grow. I picked up a six pack of plants from the local nursery and gave them a premium spot in the garden. I checked the garden in the mornings before work and spent time after work weeding around the plants. After a few months of careful tending, the broccoli was ready. I watered the garden that morning with the intention of harvesting my broccoli bounty after work and eating my first head of homegrown broccoli that evening for dinner. It did not work out that way at all.
I got home from work, changed clothes, grabbed a knife, and headed to the garden to harvest the broccoli. As I exited the house and approached the garden, the hugest groundhog I have ever seen waddled away from my garden. Yes, waddled. That’s all he could do after having spent his day devouring every single broccoli floret and stalk from my half dozen plants. It was a devastating loss for me. I occasionally attempted to grow broccoli in other years, but never had a crop near as good as that first one. Too bad we didn’t get to taste any of it! Even if it is not homegrown, broccoli is readily available and makes delicious meals, like this pizza.
Broccoli & Red Onion Pizza
Broccoli & Red Onion Pizza (an Eric Heuser original recipe) Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 2 garlic cloves, divided
- 1/2 red onion, cut into half rainbow slices
- 1/2 pound broccoli, in small pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 6 ounces shredded mozzarella
- 2 ounces provolone, coarsely torn
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Directions:
Heat the grill or oven to 500°F.
Slice one clove of garlic and combine it with the red onion, broccoli & red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the vegetables and mix it all up. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, cut a few slits in the plastic and microwave it on high for 90 seconds.
Combine & microwave the broccoli with some olive oil, garlic, red onion and pepper flakes.
Roll out the dough on a pizza peel or pizza pan. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl and crush the other clove of garlic in it. Spread the mixture over the dough. Add the sauce to the dough, spreading it to within an inch of the edges. Layer the mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Spread the broccoli mixture over the cheese. Layer the provolone on top.
Layer the toppings & provolone over the sauce & mozzarella.
Grill or bake the pizza for 8-12 minutes, to the desired doneness.
Grill or bake the pizza.
Allow the pizza to rest for 5 minutes after cooking. Cut into 8 slices and serve.
Serve the pizza after it has rested for 5 minutes.
Happy Friday! ~Linda
Broccoli & Red Onion Pizza (an Eric Heuser original recipe) Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 2 medium garlic cloves, sliced
- !/2 red onion, cut into half rainbow slices
- 1/2 pound broccoli, in small pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 6 ounces shredded mozzarella
- 2 ounces provolone, coarsely torn
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- olive oil
Heat the grill or oven to 500°F.
Combine the sliced garlic, red onion, broccoli & red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Drizzle some olive oil over it and mix it all up. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, cut a few slits in the plastic and microwave it on high for 90 seconds.
Roll out the dough on a pizza peel or pizza pan. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl and crush the other clove of garlic in it. Spread the mixture over the dough. Add the sauce to the dough, spreading it to within an inch of the edges. Layer the mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Spread the broccoli mixture over the cheese. Layer the provolone on top.
Grill or bake the pizza for 8-12 minutes, to the desired doneness. Allow the pizza to rest for 5 minutes after cooking. Cut into 8 slices and serve.