fbpx Skip to Content

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza

Share the love :)

Beauty and the Beets Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza recipe

First off – the following recipe has No Oil, No Dairy (including cheese) and No Meat. I am just letting you know before you keep reading and then realize I am sharing a pizza recipe with no oil, no cheese and no meat. While the meat is usually somewhat acceptable to most people, the no cheese thing is usually a big turn off. Occasionally, Mr. Beet and I will want takeout pizza without cheese and every once and a while it just confuses the heck out of the person on the other end of the phone taking our order. I guess in general most people want cheese on their pizza? Anyway, just give this Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza a chance here.

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza Beauty and the Beets recipe MM

Today’s recipe involves pita bread and veggies baked in the oven- just like a pizza. And the veggies are all simple – only tomatoes, yellow pepper (or any pepper you wish) and garlic mushrooms.

So the mushrooms were made as an assignment for my Forks Over Knives class. We are currently learning how to both sauté and roast vegetables without oil. And it is interesting.

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza mercury ball Beauty and the Beets

The most fascinating thing I learned was how to check that the pan is hot enough. If the pan is hot enough, the veggies won’t stick very easily. In order to check the heat, we learned the mercury ball test. Using a stainless steel pan, you can test the temperature of the pan by a single drop of water. Only when the water stays together and forms a ball is the pan hot enough for no oil sautéing. Let me just tell you how much fun Mr. Beet and I had watching our little water ball dance around the pan! (the ball of water in the picture above is a bit hard to see but it is there!)

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza carmelizing Beauty and the Beets

As the mushrooms begin to release their moisture and lightly stick to the pan, you add a liquid to deglaze the pan. In my case, I used blackberry juice, although the original recipe called for masala wine, and it added a slight sweetness to my mushrooms. And we loved it. Although apple juice or vegetable stock would work just as well if blackberry juice is not readily available. Just be sure to use juice that has no added sugar or your mushrooms will be very sweet.

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza Mise en Place Beauty and the Beets

And the whole mushroom cooking process was real fast so the mise en place was very important. (Mise en place is the set up of all the ingredients in a dish for easy access during cooking.) And the mise en place is part of our grade for the class.

Garlic Mushroom Beauty and the Beets

Anyway, as I said, the mushrooms cooked very quickly so they went from raw to done in a matter of minutes.

Beauty and the Beets pita pizza

The end result was a plate of mushroom yumminess – I could eat them just as is – but I decided to make a pita pizza with them. I kept the other veggies simple as to not overshadow the garlic mushrooms. I used sliced tomatoes in place of sauce, added some yellow pepper for color, and added green onions as a garnish. Easy!!

Publix gourmet mushrooms Beauty and the Beets

And by the way, I found this gourmet mix of mushrooms at my local grocery store but this recipe works with any type of mushrooms – even those big portabella ones (just cut them into small pieces first.)

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza

Ingredients

For the mushrooms:

  • 1/4 cup minced shallots
  • 2 garlic cloves,, minced
  • 2 cups mushrooms,, loosely packed bite sized pieces*
  • 3 tbsp juice with no added sugar,, preferred blackberry**
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh chives
  • pinch sea salt

For the pizza:

  • 2 whole Vegan pitas
  • 5 campari tomatoes or 2 large red tomatoes,, sliced
  • 1 yellow pepper,, diced
  • 2 green onions,, white and green parts sliced

Instructions

To make the mushrooms:

  1. Begin to heat a large skillet over medium high heat. As the pan heats up***, check the temperature by adding a drop of water. When the water forms into a ball and rolls around the skillet, your skillet is hot enough. Add the shallots and stir continuously until you notice they begin to slightly stick.
  2. Add the mushrooms and garlic, continue to stir until the mushrooms begin to stick.
  3. Quickly add the juice and stir the mushrooms until the skillet is almost dry, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Sprinkle in the chives and sea salt, remove the skillet from the heat.

To make the pizza:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°
  2. Layer the tomatoes and peppers on the pita bread.
  3. When the mushrooms are cooked, pile the mixture onto the layer of tomatoes and peppers.
  4. Sprinkle on the green onions and bake in the oven for 10 minutes, until the pita begins to crisp.
  5. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Notes

Any mushrooms will work – shiitake, oyster, baby bellas, etc.

*I used juice in place of wine, however, you can use masala wine or another deep red.

*** It is important to make sure your pan in hot enough. To test on a stainless steel pan, drop a tiny amount of water onto the heated pan. When the water forms a ball and rolls around the pan, your pan is ready for your ingredients.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it on Instagram and mention @beautyandthebeets or tag #beautyandthebeets. I would love to see what you made!

Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza Beauty and the Beets #ChewsVeggies

Naturally, if you have to add cheese, a finely grated parmesan would work well. Not the shaky can kind of cheese, like if you are going to take the time to make the garlicky shrooms then grate a block of Parmesan yourself.

Have you ever had pizza without the cheese?

What is your favorite veggie on your pizza?

Helen Corbin

Tuesday 16th of February 2016

Let me know when you open up your own restaurant :-)

Anna-Marie

Tuesday 16th of February 2016

Only when you move within a few miles of me and open the restaurant with me!!

Mary Jane Saunders

Monday 15th of February 2016

<3 <3 <3

Skip to Recipe