I’m not the first to say it, but Arugula is the New Basil. Ryan and I aren’t shy about our affection for a good pizza. In fact, we fell head over heels in love with Apizza Scholls in Portland and we celebrated the news of our first pregnancy at Home Slice in Austin. Whenever we visit a new town, we make sure to try out the city’s best offering.
Back home, we make pizza at least once a month (and more often, once a week). Homemade dough, a sweet and spicy tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese make for a delicious and easy weeknight meal. I’ve always loved adding fragrant basil to my piping hot pizza, but as you mighty know, the vibrant green leaves quickly turn dark black once met by heat. And although the pizza still tastes good…it looks a little disappointing.
And if I believe anything about food its this: food should be appreciated by all five senses.
So enter arugula. Spicy, flavorful, and shockingly resistant to melting pizza cheese, arugula is now my greenery of choice. I throw it on my pizza for the nutrition, for the taste, and for the visual appeal. It transforms an ordinary cheese pizza into the belle of the ball.
Arugula Pizza
4 Whole Wheat Pitas
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, finely shredded
1/2-3/4 cup prepared tomato sauce
8 ounces organic arugula, washed
Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Line two small baking sheets or one large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange pitas two inches apart. Generously spoon tomato sauce on pita bread and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and beginning to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle arugula on top. Serve with a glass of wine and Parmesan cheese.
What a cute little pizza! Gah! I still haven’t eaten at Apizza Scholls, and I am a native Portlander! Not only that the name Scholls, which refers to the place they originally started out, is like 3 miles from my parent’s house & where I grew up, which is literally 10 miles out of town in the country. I used to pass by there all the time and say to myself, “We should eat there sometime”, the cars would be lined up all along the country road, I am pretty sure that was why they ultimately moved, some of the people living near there weren’t happy about all the traffic parked along the road all the time. I neeeeed to eat that pizza!! ; )
I love using pittas as a midweek pizza base, they are surprisingly delicious! I will have to try adding argula instead of basil next time I make pizza.
I love arugula too (we call it rocket here) and it adds so much flavour I agree! 😀
That is so great to know! I love greens on my pizza too, but not wilted, blackened ones. 🙂
Simple dinners like this are just the best. And I agree, peppery arugula is the new basil! 🙂
Huge arugula fan too…. haven’t made arugula pizza in a while, good to be reminded of a great thing! 😉
Arugula can be so wonderful, especially on pizza or turned into a pesto for pasta. I do love its peppery notes.
Arugula’s my fav. salad green, so move over basil. And that pizza? It looks very delicious! And just about perfect for summer.
I love “salad pizzas” top them with any greens and I’m good to go!
This is crazy, but I don’t know if I’ve ever had arugula. I need to get on the bandwagon now!
Love the idea of adding arugula to a pizza. This pizza looks amazing.. Now I know what I am making for dinner tomorrow.. Thanks for sharing.. 🙂
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe I should add arugula to my next pizza-it looks so beautiful on yours!!
I have to admit, that when I first tried arugula I really didn’t care for the peppery taste, but now I’m a huge fan and it really is the new basil! We eat so much pizza in our house and I’m always looking for fun ways to spice them up. I always end up putting my salad right on top of my pizza, so I love the idea of piling the arugula right on top!
So simple, but SO perfect!!
Gah! I love that this recipe uses pitas! How great is that. Simple and easy!
i love the peppery taste from arugula.i made pesto once with it and im sold. pizza is a weekly ritual in my house also. what pita do you use? or do you make your own?
Hi Dixya! Yes I do make my own! I hope to share the recipe in a few weeks! But in the past, I’ve bought mine at Whole Foods. They’re pretty good!
I love a good pizza too! And we love making it at home. This looks so good – and even better that it’s so simple! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Yes! Arugula on top of pizza is one of those tricks that is so much more than meets the eye. We do this pretty much every time we happen to have both arugula and hot pizza in the house at once. 🙂
Such lush flavor and easy to prepare, a weeknight dinner for sure! With the addition of arugula a tasty salad is included too!
I need to start making pizza every month too because it’s one of our favourite foods! And I love topping pizza with arugula. It gives it such a bright, fresh, strong contrast in flavour and texture.