What's delicious, healthy and America's favorite food? A ChefMD™-approved pizza of course! That's right-- enjoy all the crunchy, chewy, cheesey qualities of pizza while also making it healthy. This homemade pizza recipe includes tasty toppings,...

What's delicious, healthy and America's favorite food? A ChefMD™-approved pizza of course! That's right-- enjoy all the crunchy, chewy, cheesey qualities of pizza while also making it healthy. This homemade pizza recipe includes tasty toppings, lots of cheese and of course plenty of cancer-fighting tomato sauce. Tomato-based pizza sauce is rich in lycopene and has been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and cervical cancer. Enjoy!

Food as Medicine Tips:

Studies have shown that tomato products like pizza sauce or ketchup have greater amounts of lycopene than raw tomatoes. And eating these tomato-based products may reduce your risk of certain cancers. ChefMD™ recommends eating 10 tablespoons of tomato products a week.

Culinary Taste Tip:

Don't limit your cheesy topping to just mozzarella! Experiment with other cheese favorites or try combinations. In this recipe, gouda cheese gives the pizza a smoky flavor. Try cheddar cheese for a southwestern style pie, or feta with spinach topping.
 
Culinary Technique Tip:

Use shredded cheese instead of sliced cheese on top of a pizza. Shredded cheese gives the appearance that you are using more than you actually are. So in fact, you use less cheese and fewer calories!
 
Sausage & Mushroom Pizza:

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 slices
Calories: 238 per slice (30% from fat)

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped sweet onion, such as Vidalia, Maui or Walla Walla
12 oz. crimini mushrooms*, sliced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend, such as Penzey's or dried oregano
1/3 cup pizza sauce, preferably organic
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 (10 oz.) prepared whole wheat pizza crust, such as Boboli
2 links (4 ½ oz.) fully cooked chicken sausage, such as Amy's Bravo Italiano
3 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (3/4 cup)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Cook onion in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat for five minutes. Add mushrooms and Italian seasoning and cook eight to 10 minutes or until mushrooms give up their juices and juices evaporate, stirring frequently.

Meanwhile, combine pizza sauce and vinegar and spread over pizza crust. Cut sausage into 1/4 inch slices on the bias and arrange over pizza. Spread mushroom mixture over pizza and top with cheese. Place pizza directly on oven rack or on a cookie sheet. Bake eight to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Cut into wedges.

Substitutions:

Smoked mozzarella cheese may replace the smoked Gouda and balsamic vinegar or red wine may replace the red wine vinegar if you prefer.

Tip:

Crimini mushrooms are sometimes called brown mushrooms or Baby Bella mushrooms. Serve with a simple, crisp salad and good red wine.

Nutritional Analysis:

Total fat (g): 8
Fat calories (kc): 75
Cholesterol (mg): 29
Trans fatty acids (g): 0
Saturated fat (g): 4
Polyunsaturated fat (g): 0.5
Monounsaturated fat (g): 2
Fiber (g): 4
Carbohydrates (g): 29
Sugar (g): 5
Protein (g): 15
Sodium (mg): 564
Calcium (mg): 181

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