The Vegetable Prep Move To Elevate Boring Frozen Pizza

Let's face it: frozen pizza will only ever be so good. It offers folks a convenient dinner option on busy days, and its affordability makes frozen pizza an economical choice when eating out seems to cost more with every passing day. Yet, many frozen pizza brands in the grocery store typically lack the flavor and generous amount of toppings that make an excellent pie. The good news is that they can be enhanced by adding fresh vegetables on top, but those veggies need a little preparation before they hit the oven.

Most vegetables that people consider staple pizza toppings will crisp up in the oven right along with the pie. However, just because you don't need to cook them beforehand doesn't mean they shouldn't be given a little TLC. Veggies like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini can be cut thin, drizzled with a touch of olive oil, and seasoned with complementary herbs and spices to elevate their flavor profile. Dried basil, oregano, and Italian blends are go-to seasonings that mesh with all the cheese and sauce frozen pizza offers. Adding black pepper grants some warmth to the vegetables, and a pinch of salt accents the natural flavors within.

Of course, if you feel ambitious, you can always get more creative with your vegetable choices. Plenty of other veggie and seasoning combinations are a breath of fresh air on a frozen pizza. It might require a bit more work and forethought, depending on what you choose to top the pie with, but the results can turn a simple frozen pizza into an outstanding dish.

While there would be nothing wrong with simply adding peppers, onions, and mushrooms to a frozen pizza, so many other vegetable options are available. Tangy artichokes would add a little zing, while hearty broccoli can impart a welcome earthy flavor to the pizza. However, these types of veg should be cooked before they go in the oven with your pie. The high water content in artichokes could make your frozen fare come out soggy if they aren't lightly sautéed ahead of time, and broccoli benefits from a quick blanch to ensure its texture holds up in the oven.

Greens like spinach can be added raw to an already-cooked pie for a fresh, crispy bite that balances the gooey cheese and tomato sauce. They can also be baked on top, but only if cooked beforehand. Simply adding them atop the pizza before going in the oven will cause them to dry out and shrivel. It is best to sauté spinach garlic and oil for a few minutes, then thoroughly dry it before topping. That allows the green to maintain a better texture in the high heat of the oven and adds delightful garlicky notes.

Even the worst frozen pizza from the grocery store can be made exceptional by thoughtfully adding fresh, seasoned vegetables to the dish. The next time you are walking past that lackluster plain cheese pizza in the frozen aisle, don't discount so quickly. Take a moment to regard it as a blank canvas with which you can create a culinary work of art.