Mediterranean Pizza

Ingredients Needed

Here are a few notes on each of the ingredients you’ll need:

• Pizza dough: I usually use this Best Pizza Dough recipe, a reader favorite recipe I’ve relied on for years. If you like thin crust, my Thin Crust Pizza Dough also works well.
• Pizza sauce: My 5-Minute Pizza Sauce is non-negotiable! All you need is fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and oregano, and it comes together in minutes.
• Veggies: For the veggies, I use fresh spinach (which I sauté first), red onion, Kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. I think you’ll find that the flavor combination just says “Mediterranean”.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese: I like to use whole milk mozzarella for the best melting.
• Feta cheese: Salty feta is another key ingredient for the perfect Mediterranean vibe.
• Fresh basil: Add it after baking for the best herby, pizzeria flavor.

How to Make Mediterranean Pizza

Here’s a step by step breakdown — or just scroll down to my recipe below!

1. Make the pizza dough. Follow my Homemade Pizza Dough recipe: it takes 15 minutes to mix and 45 minutes to reset and rise.
2. Preheat. Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F. This is where your crispy crust comes from! See How to Use a Pizza Stone for more.
3. Prep the toppings. For the sauce, blend together fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, oregano, and salt. Sauté the spinach for about 2 minutes until wilted, and chop the other toppings.
4. Stretch the dough. Dust your pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour, then stretch the dough into a circle. See my tips for how to stretch pizza dough.
5. Build the pizza. Spread a thin, even layer of pizza sauce over the dough, then top with the veggies and cheeses.
6. Bake. Slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
7. Finish with basil. Let the pizza cool for a minute or two, then scatter fresh basil. Slice and serve.

Easy Variations to Try

I love this Mediterranean pizza recipe as written, but there are a few ways to vary it up that make it just as tasty:

• Add artichoke hearts. Marinated artichoke hearts are a natural fit here! Drain them well, then chop and add a handful with the olives.
• Swap in goat cheese. Goat cheese works well instead of feta; it has a more mild flavor and is creamier. (It’s one of my favorite pizza toppings, like in this goat cheese pizza.)
• Try arugula instead of spinach. Skip the sautéed spinach and add a handful of fresh arugula after baking (I like mixing it with a little olive oil and pinch of salt first).
• Add red pepper or bell peppers. Thin strips of roasted red pepper add sweetness; or you could add finely chopped peppers.
• Make it vegan. Use a vegan mozzarella and skip the feta (or use a vegan feta).
• Use store-bought pizza dough. Of course, you can use this shortcut for weeknights.
• Try pita or naan as the crust. For an even faster weeknight idea, try these toppings on a naan pizza or pita pizza.

What to Serve With It

Here’s how I like to serve this recipe:

• A crisp green salad with Greek salad dressing
• A simple tossed salad with cherry tomatoes and a light vinaigrette, like my favorite chopped salad
• Wine: a light-bodied red like a Pinot Noir or a crisp white like Grillo.
• More pizza: Pair with my Pesto Pizza or a classic Homemade Margherita Pizza.