Bruschetta Pizza
Brushed with pesto and then topped with fresh tomatoes and arugula,
this Bruschetta Pizza is a delicious summer meal!
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Ah, bruschetta, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. There is something so rewarding about creating a fresh and easy snack using fresh summer ingredients. Wait, did I just say snack? Forget that! I often eat bruschetta by itself for lunch during the summer. Once our garden goes into overdrive, we’re always looking for ways to use fresh tomatoes…and bruschetta is one of the easiest ways ever! Plus, we all know about my penchant for baking bread, right? I just toast up several slices of Italian bread, rub the crusty bread with fresh garlic and then top it with tomatoes and olive oil. Easy delicious lunch. Done.
There’s a restaurant right around the corner from us that makes some really excellent wood-fired pizzas. They’ve got legit beer choices on tap, too. And to make it even better, they offer a happy hour deal with a pizza + a draft beer for $9. (It used to by $8, but I guess inflation got to them, too.) Add in the delicious bread that just magically disappears from the basket, and I’m a happy camper! One of my favorite pizzas there is a Bruschetta Pizza that is topped with garlic, tomatoes, basil and arugula (or rocket for you European folks).
Can we talk about arugula/rocket for a moment? We planted a row of it several years ago in our garden. It grew well, and we enjoyed the peppery flavor it brought to our summer salads. Then the next year, we noticed that it came back on it’s own. How it survived the upstate New York winter, I have no idea…but it did. And then the next year it came back again. Each time it expanded until it has now taken over an entire bed of our garden. Heck, I even found some stray arugula growing in the grass next to the garden. Let me tell ya…when you mow over arugula, it’ll wake you up. It smells like you just dumped a bucket of peppercorns into the lawn mower.
Bruschetta Pizza
Bruschetta PizzaIn an effort to use that arugula in our garden, I decided to grill up a Bruschetta Pizza for dinner the other night. I took a batch of our homemade pizza dough, topped it with some basil pesto, tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella and of course arugula. The result was a delicious and colorful pizza! And since I grilled the pizza, it had a nice summer grilled flavor mixed in there, too. (You could absolutely just bake the pizza dough like normal, but I decided to pull out the grill for a bit of fun.)
Have you ever mowed arugula? (It only takes one time to know…)
Did you make this Bruschetta Pizza at home? Leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog)!
Looking for other tasty pizza recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Steak and Gorgonzola Pizza
Meatball Parm French Bread Pizza
Shrimp Scampi Pizza
Broccolini and Goat Cheese Pizza
Grilled Tomato Basil Pizza
Bruschetta Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 batch of pizza dough homemade or store-bought
- 2 Tbsp olive oil divided
- ¼ cup prepared pesto homemade or store-bought
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 3 cloves garlic diced
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh arugula
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat grill to high heat. (Note: Something in the range of 450-500°F is ideal.)
- On a lightly-floured countertop, roll the pizza dough out into a large circle. Sprinkle a pizza peel (or the bottom of a baking sheet) generously with cornmeal. Place the dough on the peel.
- In a small dish, combine the pesto, salt, pepper and garlic; set aside.
- Slide the dough on the grill, close cover and cook for 1-2 minutes. (Tip: Keep a close eye at this stage as the bottom of the dough can burn quickly!)
- Flip the dough over and brush the pesto mixture evenly across the dough, leaving a 1” edge on all sides. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese evenly across dough. Brush edges of the pizza with 1 Tbsp olive oil.
- Close grill cover. Close air vents (on charcoal grill). (For gas, reduce temperature to medium.) Cook for 3-5 more minutes, or until cheese has fully melted and dough is fully cooked.
- Using a large bowl, toss the diced tomatoes and chopped basil leaves with the remaining 1 Tbsp of olive oil.
- Transfer pizza from grill onto a cutting board; immediately top pizza with the tomato/basil mixture. Finish by topping with fresh arugula and shaved Parmesan.
I love grilled pizza over the summer..and having such a fresh and light topping like this bruschetta makes it even better. I wish I had arugula in my garden 🙁
Oh man, be careful about wishing for arugula in your garden, Zainab! The stuff is like a weed. We now have little arugula patches popping up all over our backyard!
David, I think I might love bruschetta more than you. . I freaking love that you made a pizza and that you guys grow your own arugula!!!! the arugula sounds pretty strong and fierce! 🙂 the fact that it keeps growing back o its own and the mowing part. . I can only imagine!!! LOVE this pizza!!!
Oh man, those are fightin’ words, Alice. We love our bruschetta around these parts! But that arugula? Holy cow! We now have random little clusters of arugula growing up in our backyard. Like yards away from the garden. I’m a little afraid to think what will happen by next year. Do you need any fresh arugula? I know where you can find some…
Love your arugula garden story!
Thanks, Phronsie! Need any arugula? I know a great place where you can get some. Haha! 🙂
I’ve mowed over a lot of things – but, arugula hasn’t been one of them – not yet anyways! Sounds like y’all have yourselves some perennial wild arugula (there’s a name for it – but, I am stumped right now), this stuff can last thru just about anything! BTW – so loving the pesto base on this pizza – and all those fresh toppings!
Yeah, I need to research this a bit more. We planted our arugula from a seed packet several years ago, but now the stuff is like taking over our yard! I have arugula patches popping up across my backyard now. I’m not lying. It’s like mint. Or dandelions. You can’t kill the stuff no matter how hard you try! Guess that means we’ll be eating a lot of bruschetta pizzas now! 🙂
This looks amazing! I love basically everything on this pizza! Pinning 🙂
Thank you so much, Medha! I gotta admit that this pizza is definitely one of our summer favorites. 🙂
So basically what you’re saying here is that arugula (who calls it rocket btw?) is a weed.
Now I want to mow over arugula too (sounds like a cool thing to do!). I and also want a slice of that dope bruschetta pizza.
#WolfpackMowers
Yes, I am pretty much saying that arugula is a weed. It is literally taking over our backyard right now. Do you need any arugula? How about a trash bag full of it? Then come on up!
Deal. I’ll stop by Saratoga on my way to Berlin.
#WolfpackJetsetting
love this & pinned it 🙂
-Neha
Love Playing DressUp
Thank you so much, Neha! 🙂
I love when plants come back again and again….especially when you aren’t expecting it! This pizza looks great and a perfect way to use that arugula.
Haha…I love it, too, Kathy! But our arugula is turning into a bit of a problem now. I have random arugula patches popping up all over my backyard. The stuff is indestructible! Guess we just need to start eating a lot more bruschetta. 🙂
love this pizza especially because you added pesto, mmmmm!!
The pesto is one of my favorite parts, Manali! We eat so much pesto in the summer…but who knew it made such a great base for pizza! 🙂
Hi David! I’m sitting here eating a slice of cold leftover pizza as I type! We have mint, thyme and parsley that comes back every year. This year we have “volunteer” yellow summer squash that has taken over one end of the garden – it’s spreading everywhere, even growing up the tomato cages and the pole beans! Thankfully, my chickens love squash because there are only so many things to do with it!
It sounds like your garden is pretty awesome, Dorothy! Our garden looks pretty weak this year. Probably the worst it’s looked in years. Not sure if it was all of the rain we had in the early growing season or the fact that we’ve been traveling so much. But the arugula? It looks great! In fact, it has decided to start taking over other random parts of our backyard now. I didn’t realize you have chickens! How awesome is that!!
This looks so good and refreshing for summer! I can’t wait to give your recipe a try!
Thanks, Dara! It’s tough to beat bruschetta in the summer…especially when it joins up with pizza. 🙂
I’m green with envy over your arugula garden! It’s definitely a New Yorker alright tough as nails! Love it on this pizza!
Hahaha…I love your tough as nails description, Tonya. You couldn’t be any more correct either…that stuff is almond indestructible. Guess we’ll just need to eat more bruschetta pizza, huh? 🙂
David, first I love this pizza! Second, I never grew arugula in my (patio) garden before. Does it re-grow on it’s own? I never knew that! That sounds awesome!! I think, I have to grow some soon!
Hey Savita! I didn’t realize that arugula came back on it’s own until we saw it come sprouting up the second year. We live in upstate New York where pretty much nothing in the garden comes back each year…except for arugula. Definitely plant some! I can’t promise yours will come back, but it grows pretty quickly from seed. And the taste is incredible! 🙂
You combined two basically sacred things, and this is awesome, David! Just few days back while eating out I saw a flat bread bruschetta on the menu. Now I’m kind of upset cause not ordering it. But I believe, that flat bread wasn’t as delicious as you’ve got here! Nicely done (And now I’ve got to inventory the fridge. What have you done?!)
I’ve set you off on a path of destruction. No wait, a path of awesomeness! I totally love flatbread pizzas, too, Ben…and I almost always zoom straight to them when they appear on a menu. Definitely check out the bruschetta one next time you are out! 🙂
So you basically have arugula on tap, how cool is that? I don’t have anything low or on the ground because the dogs eat it, but I do have a couple fruit trees they can’t get to! This looks so crunchy and refreshing. I love to grill pizza too and actually made one last night (well really a flatbread of sorts, recipe coming soon). Summer is awesome!
Haha…arugula on tap! I like that. Now if only I could figure out how to make beer on tap grow in my garden, too. Can’t wait to see your flatbread idea! Summer grilling is the best!!
I love your comments about your arugula popping up all over your yard haha That is so funny! This pizza looks so fresh and satisfying. I think I could get this by my husband on a meatless Monday =) Thanks for the recipe! http://www.ourfoodieappetite.com/el-arepazo-latin-grill-review-gahanna-oh/
Hah! Arugula growing up all over the yard is indeed hilarious…but I’m more than a little worried what will happen by next year. That stuff is crazy…but maybe it will chase the weeds out of my yard at least? Haha! 🙂
I have been loving bruschetta this summer! I love your mix up by making it a pizza. Sounds fantastic!
It’s definitely a fun way to mix up summer meals…plus, if you grill the pizza dough, then it’s just another excuse to pull out the grill! Summer grilling for the win! 🙂
I am totally with you! Forget bruschetta as a snack; it deserves to be an entire meal! 🙂 I seriously need to grow arugula in my garden! I mean, I grow pretty much everything else! Haha! Do you happen to know what climate arugula grows best in? Thanks David! 😀
I couldn’t agree more! Bruschetta totally deserves to be a meal by itself in the summer. There’s too many fresh ingredients involved to leave it as a side dish. I actually don’t know much about growing arugula in other areas. We live in Zone 5a for gardening, but I’m guessing arugula will grow in pretty much any climate…that stuff is like a darn weed it grows so fast! We planted it from seed a couple of years ago. It came up within a couple of weeks, and now we can’t get rid of it fast enough…haha!
David this looks so so good!! I need to have this soon 🙂
Thank you so much, Ami! I’m always looking for any excuse to get out in front of the grill in the summer. 🙂
Now that is a delicious looking pizza. We have been grilling pizzas a lot too (I have a blog post on it coming soon), and it’s a lot of fun.
Also, pesto on pizza is a BIG yes. Who needs a tomato base when you can have pesto.
I can’t wait to see your post, Dannii! Grilled pizzas are tons of fun. It took me a couple of times to get it down when I first started (the first couple were way too burnt, but then I managed to figure it out.) And yes to pesto! I could eat that stuff with a spoon…especially in the summer!
Okay this popped up in my bloglovin after a certain beverage. My bloglovin must be messed up, thanks alot KK.
While it’s epic to have unlimited arugula (rocket lol…our silly lingo), do you find that so many green non edible plants look like it? Imagine accidentally eating that. Anyway, this looks delicious as always and I need to grill a pizza just so I can say it. I GRILLED A PIZZA.
Oh man. Sometimes I seriously hate Bloglovin! I absolutely do not want to see anything from KK. Ever again! Anyways, let’s talk tasty pizzas. I totally agree with you about arugula/rocket. It looks so similar to other things…like weeds. I’ve literally got arugula sprouting up all over my backyard. I’m a little worried what next year is going to bring now. Need any arugula? Haha!