Pull this crispy Flatbread Salad Pizza with Pesto, Shaved Asparagus, Mushrooms and Feta together in 15 minutes flat! So good and so easy! Vegetarian. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Earthbound Farm. Thank you for supporting brands that help support Vanilla And Bean.
I’ve been struggling with Sunday evenings. Knowing the alarm clock is just around the corner doesn’t excite me. Mondays are hard. Hard because weekends are soooo great and all I want is to have an extended weekend every weekend. I’m not asking too much, right?
Every now and then, the idea of a four day work week pops up in the news, but it never really seems to gain enough traction for nationwide change.
It doesn’t help when connecting with InstaFriends from other countries on Instagram who seem to be on a bank or other holiday regularly. Much more-so than we take time off for rest, travel, friends and family….. caring for ourselves, here in the U.S. This infographic has some data for comparison’s sake.
Working towards feeling a sense of acceptance rather than resistance hasn’t been easy for me in this area. I tend to get a bit grumpy come Sunday evening.
I think the big thing contributing to this resistance is that it’s Spring.
Spending time outdoors in beautiful places is all I want to do. I get a bit of cabin fever during our short Winter-gray days, so when the skies clear, and the temperatures warm, I want to spend as much time as I can outside walking, hiking, exploring, looking for Spring migrants or pulling weeds and planting in the Garden of Weedin’.
Lounging on the patio with a good book is on the agenda too. I’m determined to make this happen more often. After all it’s taking me three months to get to chapter four of Big Magic.
As much as I love being in the kitchen, creating, photographing and writing… it’s so gorgeous out, it’s hard to focus.
Are you with me?
When Earthbound Farm asked how me how I could incorporate a not-so-everyday salad on Sunday evenings that would allow last-minute weekend freedom, I started thinking more about Sunday evening priorities and how I’ve been feeling. Since our long Winter days have passed, for now, I needed a nudge to get me thinking differently about Sunday evening dinner.
An easy flatbread pizza recipe I’d been making for years came to mind but with a salad twist!
Perhaps a surprising salad, did you know you can have salad on your pizza? The only rule for a salad pizza is making sure a substantial pile of those nourishing greens get on top. This is not the time to skimp.
Crispy Flatbread Salad Pizza with Shaved Asparagus, Mushrooms and Feta comes together in no time. Prep is quick with pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients for a satisfying dinner packed with seasonal veggies.
Here’s the deal. To get that flatbread pizza to the crispy, sublime pizza experience it’s designed to be, it takes a hot oven. Heat the oven to 550F (287C) with a baking sheet, cast iron skillet or pizza stone on the top rack.
Once you’ve prepped the ingredients and built the pizza, slide the flatbread on to the hot pan/skillet/stone and in five minutes, you’re tossing gorgeous greens on top with a handful of cherry tomatoes, a few dots of feta, a drizzle of high quality balsamic vinegar with a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes.
Is your mouth watering?
#SaladSunday is lookin’ quite tasty.
How do you incorporate salads for dinner on Sunday evenings that help you extend weekend play time? Please share and drop a link below in the comments.
Flatbread Salad Pizza with Pesto, Shaved Asparagus, Mushrooms and Feta
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil virgin, unrefined
- 1 1/2 C Cremini Mushrooms stems removed, sliced, 86g
- 2 Pieces of Naan or Flatbread
- 1/4-1/3 C Your favorite Pesto 50g-72g
- 1 C Shaved Asparagus loosely packed with leftover stem sliced thin, stem tips in tact, 100g
- 1/4 C Kalamata Olives quartered, 28g
- 1/8 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/8 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1/2 C Mozzarella Cheese 52g
- 1/2 C Feta Cheese 35g
- 1 1/2 C Spinach Arugula Mix loosely packed (I use Earthbound Farm) 38g
- 2 Hand fulls of Sliced Cherry Tomatoes
- Balsamic Vinegar for Drizzling
Instructions
- Set a oven rack on the highest position in the oven. Slide in a sheet pan, pizza stone or cast iron skillet and peheat oven to 550F (287C).
- Heat oil in saute pan until shimmering. Add the mushrooms and stir only occasionally for five minutes. We want the mushrooms to sear as this will bring out their flavor. Remove from heat and set aside.
- To build the pizza, place each piece of Naan on a sheet of parchment paper. Dividing the ingredients between the two pizzas, spread the pesto over the flatbread, almost to the edges. Layer the asparagus, mushrooms, kalamata olives, a pinch of red pepper and oregano, mozzarella and a few pieces of feta (save some feta for the top later).
- Remove the pan from the oven and carefully transfer the pizza to the pan. If using a cast iron skillet, you'll need to bake one at a time. Bake on the top rack for five minutes. Remove from oven and transfer pizza to a cutting board. Place a generous hand full of salad mix on top of the pizza, add a bit of feta, a few sliced tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Slice with a pizza wheel and serve immediately.
- Serve with sea salt and red pepper flakes.
Nutrition is provided as an estimate (per serving) and courtesy. If this information is important to you, please verify it independently.
Such a tasty pizza and so easy to put together. Thoroughly enjoyed all the flavours. This is a favourite for sure. Thanks Traci
Thank you for your note, Sue! Tasty and easy… I love it! I’m thinking I’ll throw this on the grill (just got one) next time I make it… no heating up the house. Thank you again!
Newbee to your sight as I’ve been trying to improve my diet. So far I have cut out red meat and dairy. Your Veggie burger drew me in! This pizza looks and sounds awesome. I feel stupid asking, but would you explain how to shave the asparagus? And do you include the tips? And what do you think would be a good substitute for the feta? This kills me, because I love feta, as well as all cheeses. Daiya is a big disappointment. Had a pizza at Mellow Mushroom with Daiya and wished it had no cheese at all!
Hi Kay! Thank you for your note. Congratulations on your dietary shift. Yeah, the fake cheeses are not really worth the money or effort. The only one I’ve tried and liked is made with cashews.. I’m working on a homemade version :D . As far as feta, take a look at Evi’s recipe http://greenevi.com/vegan-tofu-feta-cheese-new-and-improved/ I’ve not tried it, but trust her recipes. The asparagus: trim the tips about an 1″ down, then holding the base, use a veggie peeler to shave the asparagus length wise. You’ll get wide ribbons. I hope this helps. Thank you for sharing, Kay! :D
OMG this pizza is absolutely beautiful!! I can never pile on too many veggies on a pizza and that shaved asparagus is making me swoon. I must make this pizza this summer!!!
Thank you Taylor! It tastes sooo good and you won’t believe how easy it is to pull together! I hope you love it! :D
Love quick and easy healthy meals. This looks delicious Traci !
I am totally with you, Traci! When it finally starts to get warm outside I want to be out and about, not stuck inside working (even though I genuinely enjoy my work). I love the sound and look of this gorgeous salad pizza, so fresh and delicious!
I’m SO with you. Sunday evenings make me slightly anxious (I’m a worrier, I think). You are definitely on to something with this salad pizza – an easy, fun meal that makes you feel good can change your whole evening mindset! These photos and that gif are so lovely, Traci! Hope it’s been a good week so far for you. xo.
Awh, Tessa… thank you! The struggle IS real! Pizza does help with regards to a change in my mindset.. Much needed on a Sunday night. :D
Ahhh…I am SO with you on this. I’ve been feeling it as well. In fact, so funny, but I rely so much on Earthbound Farm greens and make loads of salads for lunches and dinners. This yummy pizza would make a great easy dinner! Really loving the bold flavors you’ve combined! Lovely images…as always!
Greens are the best, Caroline. I really love EBF greens when our farms aren’t producing lettuce or I don’t make it to the Farmer’s Markets. They’re always fresh and delicious! The bold flavors are well balanced with the flatbread and greens. So much going on here, but so easy to pull together… esp when I need a shift in mindset! xo
Oh man! I think this salad pizza is going to be my new favorite thing! I go to this place nearby that makes this amazing focaccia bread in a stone oven, and they serve it with these big salads. I LOVE that combo of all those veggies and greens with the bread, so this recipe is right up my alley! And I’m totally with you on the 4 day work week. We NEED to change the way we work and prioritize our time better. I am trying to get in time to read my latest find as well, and its hard!
Focaccia bread in a stone oven? Oh my! Divine! No wonder you love it so much! You know, Beeta, we could just move to France?! LOL! xo