Easy Lentil Pizza (with Regular Crust)

Ingredients

• 1 lb Pizza dough (Store-bought or homemade)
• 0.5 cup Red lentils (Dried, rinsed)
• 1.5 cup Water (For boiling lentils)
• 0.5 cup Marinara sauce
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (Shredded)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• Red pepper flakes (To taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it preheats.

2. 2

   In a small saucepan, combine the red lentils and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain any excess water.

3. 3

   Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness.

4. 4

   Transfer the dough to a baking sheet or a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal.

5. 5

   Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.

6. 6

   Distribute the cooked red lentils evenly over the sauce.

7. 7

   Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the lentils.

8. 8

   Drizzle the olive oil over the cheese and sprinkle with dried oregano and red pepper flakes if using.

9. 9

   Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

10. 10

    Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For a crispier crust, you can pre-bake the dough for 5 minutes before adding the toppings. You can also add other vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• vegetarian
• high-protein
• baked
• pizza