Roasted California Style Pizza

Pizza pies and dieting never go hand in hand, but with the right ingredients and a tiny knowledge, a healthy pizza can be a reality. An olive oil pizza is a healthy alternative to the cheesy monsters churned out at your local pizza joint. The absence of sauce and cheddar definitely brings down the calorie counts making this spicy treat an option for those looking to lose weight. The usage of olive oil instead of tomato sauce helps curb the tendency to pile toppings on. This helps reduce the caloric load of the pizza as well. Try this recipe for a roasted California pizza created by Emeril Lagasse in 2007. This pizza definitely won't disappoint your taste buds. The togarashi peppers are certain to light a fireplace and get your metabolism pumping.

Roasted California Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp chives, chopped into large pieces
• 1 large jalapeno, sliced
• 1 tbsp crushed togarashi peppers or red pepper flakes
• 1 tbsp thinly sliced shallots 
• 2 cloves garlic, slivered
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• Hawaiian sea salt
• Pizza dough, homemade or store-bought
• All-purpose flour, for dusting

Directions

1. Place a pizza stone in the oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F, allowing the stone to get hot.
2. When making a pizza, you want to make sure to preheat the oven well beforehand. If you let the pizza dough sit too long, it can shrink and change shape.
3. Meanwhile, in a saute pan over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once heated, add the garlic, jalapeno, shallots and sea salt. Saute until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow cooling slightly.
4. Take some flour and sprinkle it over the surface on which you'll be rolling out the pizza dough. Roll the dough out until it has a diameter of 8 to 10 inches at 1/4-inch thick.
5. Place the garlic mixture on top of the dough and top with the togarashi peppers, chives and 2 tablespoons olive oil.
6. Carefully remove the pizza stone from the oven, Place the pizza on the pizza stone in the oven and cook for ten minutes.
7. If you don't have a timer nearby, watch the color of the crusts. As soon as they're golden brown, the pizza is ready to eat. Remove from the oven, slice into wedges and serve immediately. 

Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ready In: 50 minutes
Servings: 2