Salad Pizza

Was it Michael Moss’ terrifying article on cheese in Sunday’s Times? Was it the passing mention of Sal’s, my favorite pizzeria from childhood? The only place I ever ordered Dr. Pepper and the only place I had ever heard of that served cheese-less, salad pizza. Whatever the reason, salad pizza was on my brain all day yesterday — even during a fancy midtown lunch that included lobster — so that’s what was on the dinner table at 7:00. Or at least, that was what was on mom’s and dad’s plate at 7:00. The kids couldn’t make the leap, so just had their salad on the side.

Salad Pizza

For the pizza sauce: In a medium saucepan over low heat, saute 1-2 garlic cloves in a lot of olive oil. Add 1 small onion (chopped), salt, pepper, a few shakes of red pepper flakes, and turn up heat slightly. Stir until onions have softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1 15-ounce can tomato puree (or sauce or diced tomatoes), a half dozen shakes of oregano. Stir and simmer on low heat while you prepare the rest of the meal. If you have basil, definitely add a few shreds at this point.

For the salad: In a medium bowl, toss shredded lettuce (any kind you like, this was red and green oak lettuce), a healthy handful of chopped cherry or grape tomatoes, a few slivers of red onion, a lot of shredded Parm. Then add your red wine vinegar and olive oil to taste, like you’re at a pizzeria. Toss.

For the pizza: Preheat oven to 450°F. Place store-bought pizza dough (or homemade if you are lucky enough to have it available) in the center of a lightly oiled square cookie sheet. Using your fingers, stretch it out to the sides of the pan as much as possible. Store-bought doughs are usually very springy so don’t get frustrated. The goal is to get the crust as thin as possible. Using a ladle or a large spoon, distribute a few dollops of pizza sauce on dough. Add sliced fresh mozzarella to the kids half of the pizza, keeping the other half relatively cheese-free. (We cheated a little here.) Bake for 10 to 15 minutes (start checking after 10) until cheese is bubbling and crust is golden and crispy. Remove from oven, let cool slightly and top the cheese-less side with salad.

More split-personality pizzas: Mushroom/Marinara; Potato & Onion/Marinara

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What is 9 + 15 ?
Please leave these two fields as-is:
IMPORTANT! To be able to proceed, you need to solve the following simple math (so we know that you are a human) :-)

24 Comments

my name is ish

yum. I always want a salad with my pizza. it never occurred to put a salad directly on my pizza – except for arugula, of course. thank you for another great idea!

Reply
MommyLisa

THAT I am definitely going to try. How awesome.

Except the cheese side will be for hubs and the kids. 😉

I have purchased that frozen pizza dough and find it works marvelously. I have made pizza “braids” from it for our kids and they loved it.

Reply
Karen

OMG … Sal’s has the best pizza in the world and there is nothing like their salad pizza. So simple and so good!!!! People think I’m crazy when I discuss my love for the place … I don’t just think it’s because I grew up on it … it’s just that good.

Now I must try and make it at home!

Reply
Jan @ Family Bites

We have an Italian friend who absolutely cannot eat a slice of pizza unless it’s topped with a large handful of arugula drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper. Delicious!

Reply
Paige

YUM! I’m allergic to cheese, so every pizza I eat is a salad pizza, but it’s wonderful to have a recipe I don’t have to tweak to make it so! Can’t wait to try it.

Reply
debbie at Words to Eat By

Wait, when did Sal’s start doing salad pizza? I don’t remember ever seeing anything remotely healthy there. My dad was a big fan of their eggplant parm, which was the most vegetable-y thing on the menu when I was growing up.

Meanwhile, though, YOUR salad pizza looks fab!

Reply
Lauren

That is a great idea! I will have to remember this when we start having dinner with a friend who is lactose intolerant. Such an easy meal to prepare =)

Reply
samantha

SAL’s salad pizza is the best ever. only place that keeps the dough crispy while serving the salad on the pizza dressed. I love DALS, thanks for posting.

Reply
debbie at Words to Eat By

OK. I was up visiting my parents today & picked up a slice for my kid, so of course I HAD to try the salad pizza. Holy cow, that’s good stuff! Samantha’s right–the crispy dough & dressed salad work really well together. Thanks so much for the tip.

Reply
samantha

get out!
I just found you via A Cup of Jo blog —
I LOVE SAL’S PIZZA!
in Mamaroneck?!
my mom makes “salad” pizza every wednesday – and her dressing is DEAD ON if you’re interested 🙂

Reply
Stephanie C

I grew up loving the ceasar salad pizza that Olive Garden had. It was my favorite! Cant wait to try this!!!! “I read your newsletter. Do I win the Inmod Teak Bowl?”

Reply
emily

Made this last night. Loved it so much. I forwarded the recipe to EVERYONE saying “this is soooo good”. It’s fresh and light but substantial. Kids added cut-up pepperoni to theirs. Honestly Jenny, your recipes are so consistent. I feel like I won the lottery when I found your site (and books, which I’ve bought all three of).

Reply
Mobasir hassan

This is something new that I must try not only at home but in our coffee shop restaurant also. A pizza with full of health benefits. Thanks for something expectional like this.

Reply