HOMEMADE pizza, but with a little something extra

This pizza combines what you love about your favorite stew with the cozy, Italian vibe of a pizza. Chickpeas might not be the most obvious choice for a pizza topping, but in this dish, their flavor and texture really add something special. It’s the kind of dish that elegantly brings together the best of both worlds in an original new creation. 

We use sumac for seasoning. What is it? Well, it’s a spice blend made from dried and ground red berries. It has a flavor similar to smoked paprika, but with a slightly tangy note. I was able to buy it at the supermarket, but if they don’t carry it where you live, you can use smoked paprika powder as a substitute.

Chickpeas are a rich source of fiber. This helps you feel full. They contain protein, but not quite enough to provide all the protein we need. ¹That’s why it’s best to combine them with another protein source ² in a dish—for example, with cheese, as in this recipe. Chickpeas are high in iron, but the plant-based form of this nutrient is absorbed somewhat less efficiently than the animal-based version. Fortunately, vitamin C helps boost iron absorption. As it happens, basil contains a good amount ^{3 of vitamin} C and is also delicious as a topping on a pizza. It’s as if it were meant to be, isn’t it? 

Since vitamin C is sensitive to heat, we add the basil right before serving. So the basil doesn’t go in the oven. Otherwise, an average of 10 to 15% of the total vitamin C content would be lost, and that would be a shame. ⁴ Fresh herbs have a stronger flavor, and this flavor is released immediately, unlike the dried version. This makes them an excellent way to add a finishing touch to a dish.

For this dish, I specifically choose (ready-made) fresh pizza dough rather than a pizza crust. Grammatically, they may seem related, but in terms of taste, there’s definitely a noticeable difference. By my standards, pizza crusts are often too hard after baking. Sometimes it feels like you’re going to break your teeth on the crust. (This is mainly due to the combination of my oven and my ability to gauge the perfect baking time for a pizza crust.) But the fact is, I’ve never really been satisfied with them. I actually prefer a lighter and softer base for a pizza. The flavor of the baked pizza dough is more delicate and present—but certainly not overpowering. That’s how I like my pizza best. 😉

The Recipe

Ingredients: (serves 2)

• 1 pizza dough (165 g)
• 1 400-gram can of diced tomatoes
• 330 g chickpeas (115 g drained weight)
• 1 basil plant
• 1 tbsp sumac
• 125 g mozzarella
• 70 g Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Preparation: (30 minutes)

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Rinse the chickpeas under running water.
3. Finely chop the basil leaves.
4. Put the diced tomatoes in a bowl and mix in the chickpeas and basil.
5. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and add them to the bowl.
6. Add the sumac.
7. Season generously with salt and pepper.
8. Mix everything together thoroughly once more.
9. Grate the Parmesan cheese.
10. Roll out the pizza dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
11. Spread the tomato mixture over the pizza dough.
12. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
13. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
14. Finish it off with a little fresh basil on top.

Enjoy your meal!

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Sources:

1 Inge Coene. (n.d.).Legumes: Vegetables or Meat Alternatives?NICE Nutrition Information.https://www.nice-info.be/voedingsmiddelen/groenten-en-fruit/peulvruchten-groente-of-vleesalternatief

2 Inge Coene. (n.d.-b).Legumes: Vegetables or a Meat Alternative?NICE Nutrition Information.https://www.nice-info.be/voedingsmiddelen/groenten-en-fruit/peulvruchten-groente-of-vleesalternatief

3 Van Der Voort, S.-. R. (n.d.-a).Nutritional Value of Fresh Basil. Nutritional Value Table.https://www.voedingswaardetabel.nl/voedingswaarde/voedingsmiddel/?id=1242

4 Brand, J. (October 30, 2020).Vitamin C in Fruits and Vegetables – Nijmegen Dietitian Practice. Nijmegen Dietitian Practice.https://www.dietistenpraktijknijmegen.nl/2020/10/08/vitamine-c-in-groente-en-fruit/

5 What is the difference between fresh and dried herbs?(n.d.). Dagelijkse Kost.https://dagelijksekost.vrt.be/kookmagazine/wat-is-het-verschil-tussen-verse-en-gedroogde-kruiden#searchType=articles