Whole Grain Veggie Pizza

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour (or your favorite whole grain flour)
• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• ¾ cup warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for yeast activation)

For the toppings:

• ½ cup tomato sauce or pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (or a vegan cheese alternative)
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup fresh spinach or kale, chopped
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for drizzling)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dough:
   • In a small bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and honey (if using). Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
   • In a large bowl, mix whole wheat flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir to combine.
   • Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
   • Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
2. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
3. Roll out the dough:
   • Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface to your preferred pizza thickness (about ¼ inch thick).
   • Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza stone.
4. Add toppings:
   • Spread tomato sauce evenly over the crust.
   • Sprinkle shredded cheese over the sauce.
   • Distribute sliced onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and cherry tomatoes evenly on top.
   • Sprinkle oregano, basil, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
   • Drizzle olive oil lightly over the pizza.
5. Bake:
   • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Serve:
   • Let the pizza cool for a few minutes, slice, and enjoy!