pronto pollo scone sandwich fillings and pizza toppings

Pizza doesn’t have to be a high-fat, high-calorie diet destroyer. With the right pizza toppings, pizza can actually be relatively healthy, with all four main food groups represented.

Vegetables are no strangers to pizza. Most “everything” pies include at least mushrooms, peppers, and onions. But there are plenty of other vegetables that add lots of flavor without adding lots of calories. And veggie pizzas can run the gamut from basic to gourmet.

Take mushrooms, for instance. If you’re pressed for time and not too picky, you can use mushrooms straight from the can or jar. Pre-sliced button mushrooms from your grocery store are a better choice. And for something really special, saute wild mushrooms – shitakes, morels, or chanterelles – in butter and use them to create a savory pizza with a woody flavor that’s perfect for autumn. To really intensify the flavor, deglaze the pan with a little Madeira or Marsala wine.

Onions are almost as versatile as mushrooms. Raw red or white onions add a strong taste that stands up well to other bold flavors like kalamata olives or roasted red peppers. Caramelized onions add a sweetness that’s a great compliment to salty meats like pancetta or bacon.

To caramelize them, thinly slice a couple of big onions. You’ll be amazed at how much they cook down. Melt a little butter in a large saute pan and cook them over low heat. As they begin to soften, add a little chicken stock or wine and keep cooking them until they’re a warm, toasty brown. If they dry out, add some more stock and stir. If you want an even sweeter topping, you can sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar on the onions as they cook.

The whole process can take 30 minutes or more. But the results are worth the effort.

Roasted garlic is another flavor-packed ingredient that’s worth the extra effort. To make it, cut the top off a head of garlic and place it in a terra cotta garlic roaster or on some aluminum foil. Drizzle the head with some good-quality olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so.

Squeeze the roasted garlic from the skins and spread it on the pizza crust. Then grate some fresh Parmegiano Reggiano or Grana Padona cheese over it. This is an excellent base for pizzas that don’t use tomato sauce.

Peppers can also be used raw or roasted. If you have a gas stove or grill, you can roast the peppers yourself. Just char them with the flame, then put them in a paper bag to steam. Peel off the charred skins, and chop or slice them. Or just buy a jar of roasted red peppers at the store.