Recently seen in the St. Joe’s Twitter feed: The US is now facing a pepperoni shortage. A quick Google search confirmed that there may, in fact, be a pepperoni shortage – and at the very least it’s becoming quite pricey.
With everything else going on in the world, this certainly isn’t the worst, but it seemed like a challenge we could face together. We’re always looking for ways to make some of our favorite foods healthier, and pizza is most definitely on that list.
When it comes to pizza, remember, everything is okay in moderation. So, if you can find pepperoni and it doesn’t break the bank, a piece every now and then won’t hurt. However, there are many ways to healthify (on Be Healthy Maine, it’s a word!) your favorite pie.
Here are our 10 favorite pizza topping alternatives, mostly healthier with lots of flavor:
- Get fancy with the cheese. Toss out all other toppings and simplify, but feel free to get fancy with it – shredded mozzarella, shaved parmesan, and feta crumbles make for a winning taste combination – with the bonus of calcium and vitamin D.
- Go Greek! Who needs meat when you can add a bit of fresh spinach, Kalamata olives, fresh tomato slices, and crumbled feta?
- Make it Hawaiian –pineapple, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and ham round out this option. Sure, there is a movement questioning the right to put pineapple on a pizza but to that we say, “nah, bring it on!”
- All the veggies – it is the perfect time of year to pick veggies from your own garden or make a stop at the local farmers market. Make your own veggie combo – we favor tomatoes, red pepper, and red onion – the perfect late August pizza treat.
- Pack on the protein with chicken. Prepare your crust, brush with a bit of olive oil and garlic, preheat the crust, then add your grilled chicken, a bit of BBQ sauce, and red onion and you’ve got yourself a flavorful protein packed pie.
- Presto pesto! Basil is the base of this flavor packed sauce, blend with pine nuts and some olive oil, garlic and toss some chicken on top. The basil and olive oil combine for an antioxidant and omega rich meal.
- Trade your traditional red sauce and spread on the hummus. Made with chickpeas, it’s protein and flavor packed and will be a treat for your taste buds and your health. Top with some veggies and toss on the grill for a special treat.
- Pizza for breakfast – scramble some eggs, add to your favorite precooked crust, add some green onions and parmesan cheese for a delicious pie you can have morning, noon, or night.
- Take it in a whole new slightly sweet direction – add some ricotta cheese, honey, and cinnamon for something that will make you think of sweet summer time all year long
- Make it fruity – start with a traditional pizza crust or switch it up to a flaky croissant or
sugar cookie crust. Next, drizzle a bit of lemon curd, add some strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries or whatever you find at the local farm stand.
If you have an opportunity to try one of these topping combinations, be sure to let us know.
