Summer pizza nights are the best! This veggie-loaded cherry tomato, zucchini, and pesto pizza is loaded with all sorts of fresh flavor along with tons of comfort.
cherry tomato, zucchini, and pesto pizza

There were the best of times. There were the worst of times.

And then there was lab moving day.

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Imagine the regular chaos of moving multiplied by fifty-four bottles of flammable chemicals, thirty-five highly breakable types of beakers, three -80C freezers, a large rock that my boss refuses to part with because he claims it has some nostalgic value even though he still can’t remember who gave it to him or why, two boom boxes that date back to the early ’90s, and a scuba mask (??).

Oh, and did I mention the ricin we found in the chemical hood that had to be appropriately disposed of?

Coping mechanisms = massive amounts of tequila or massive amounts of pizza.

Thankfully for everyone (but mostly my head), I chose pizza.

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You can’t really have moving day week without pizza anyway.

Or Fridays. Or celebrations. Or happiness.

So let’s pizza our lives away.

This pizza in particular is stuffed with all the best of summer, including but not limited to a hearty slather of pesto, a sprinkling of sauteed zucchini, fresh pops of cherry tomatoes, and all the cheese. I used gouda because my Whole Foods cheese monger brainwashed me with his SALE!!!! sign but you can feel free to use mozzarella, provolone, or anything your heart desires so long as it’s melty and relieves moving stress. I just couldn’t settle for anything less.

So now who do I have to see about those tequila shots?

Cherry Tomato, Zucchini, and Pesto Pizza
 
Summer pizza nights are the best! This veggie-loaded cherry tomato, zucchini, and pesto pizza is loaded with all sorts of fresh flavor along with tons of comfort.
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
For the pizza dough
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast
  • pinch of sugar
  • 1 cup lukewarm water
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
For the pizza
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 zucchini, trimmed, quartered lengthwise and then sliced horizontally
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • ⅓ cup pesto sauce
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • ½ lb gouda cheese, shredded
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, combine the yeast with a pinch of sugar and ¼ cup lukewarm water, stirring to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes. If it becomes foamy, then the yeast is alive and raring to go! If not, then the yeast is probably dead or too old and your dough won't rise, so go buy more.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the bread hook attachment, combine the flour, yeast/water mixture, remaining ¾ cup water, olive oil, and salt. Stir on medium speed until dough comes together. Stir on medium-high speed for five minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
  3. Meanwhile, make the topping. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the zucchini and saute for 5-6 minutes, or until tender. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  4. Preheat oven to 500F.
  5. Rub a 12-inch pizza pan with olive oil. When the dough has risen, spread it out over the prepared pan.
  6. Top the pizza with a layer of pesto sauce, then the zucchini and the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle evenly with the cheese.
  7. Bake the pizza for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom is starting to brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
An Eats Well With Others Original
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 2 slices

For more summer-perfect pizzas, check out these:

Chipotle Roasted Pepper and Tomato Pizza

Chipotle-Roasted Pepper and Tomato Pizza

savory rhubarb and chipotle goat cheese pizza

Savory Rhubarb and Chipotle Goat Cheese Pizza

roasted eggplant, tomato and tapenade pizza with goat cheese

Roasted Eggplant, Tomato and Tapenade Pizza with Goat Cheese

From Around the Web:

Socca Pizza with Summer Squash and Feta from Cookie + Kate

Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes and Mozzarella from Pink Parsley

Barbecue Kale and Onion Pizza from Fake Food Free

Garden Hummus Pizza from Cheeky Kitchen

Cherry Pizza with Herbed Mascarpone and Arugula from Very Culinary

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71 Responses to Cherry Tomato, Zucchini, and Pesto Pizza

  1. Sune Moolman says:

    I feel ya – we helped my in-laws move about 2 weeks ago.
    Pizza is the answer to everything! Zucchini on pizza? Brilliant!

  2. That looks perfectly comforting!

  3. Christine says:

    Oh my dear, I feel for you! All that and then add some ricin to the mix? Eeek! Pizza is definitely required! Absolutely delicious looking and so easy! Loved the yeast advice 😉

  4. Pizza is definitely key for coping with a move… in fact a move demands good pizza. And ricin? Flashback to Walter White…

  5. I have never made my own crust, but would love to. Can’t wait to try the crust recipe.

  6. I have moved house 6 times in 12 years – and you are soooo right when you say pizza is necessary under those circumstances! And this one looks great, I love pesto in everything including pizza!

  7. I always love your pizza ingredients combos! And yes, moving – no matter what or where you’re moving – always calls for pizza!!!!!

  8. Yes! I’ve been trying to avoid making pizza because it makes the house so hot but I’m totally going to cave. After seeing this I’m dreaming up my next pizza.
    Looks delish. Pinning.
    Have a great weekend!

  9. This sounds lovely, great tastes of summer.

  10. I want to pizza my life away too.
    Oh well – I was so pizza-ing my life away until I killed my yeast this morning so now I’m just ice-creaming my life away. Which is cool, but could be much better with the addition of pizza and tequila shots.
    Oh wow, this one looks like a winner! GOuda is my new cheesy love <3
    Happy Friday! I hope you're getting some relax soon – moves are the worst!

  11. Your moving day confuses me….you have all that stuff in your apartment?!? Or your lab? Please tell me your lab!!!! And yes, pizza is always in order for moving!

  12. Ricin?!?! Ahhhh. Reminds me of Breaking Bad 😉

    This pizza looks perfect Joanne!

  13. Zainab says:

    Hahah yeah lab moving is the worst. We moved into a new (terrible) building in March and the nightmare still continues. Hopefully yours is short lived with your smarter than mine labmates! Pass the whole pan please!!

  14. Johanna GGG says:

    your pizza always looks so good – I want some (esp as tonight’s effort at pizza was not my best)

  15. Can I have this pizza for breakfast? It’s a thing of beauty.

  16. Pizza dough has always been tough for me but I’m inspired to try it again by all these gorgeous options! 🙂

  17. cheri says:

    Hi Joanne, this looks like a good crust, love the topping. Hope your move went well.

  18. Meg says:

    Oooh, this looks fabulous! And yes, pizza has medicinal properties during moving week. We had it twice during our recent, epic, awful transition to the new house . . . and it didn’t even feature any flammable materials! 🙂 (That I know of, anyway . . . though my husband is a scientist. Hmm.)

  19. SallyBR says:

    There is NOTHING worse than a lab move. I’ve been through several, and it is a nightmare. A real real nightmare.

    My profound sympathies for you and your colleagues. Phil is a pack rat (he won’t admit it), and I still hear about all the “good stuff” I made him discard from the lab in Oklahoma before moving here…. (sigh)

  20. The best looking summer pizza ever!

  21. This looks so good. Gouda cheese (smoked variety) is becoming one of my favorite cheeses. We’re looking at building a new home in the next three years and I told my husband I wanted my own pizza oven. Yum!

  22. Jordan says:

    “So let’s pizza our lives away.” Amen. This sounds like a perfect summer pizza, yum!

  23. Wowza! This looks incredible.

  24. Kinsey says:

    Wow that looks so good. I’ve made zucchini, pesto, and feta pizzas before, and the pesto just works with the zucchini! It’s like summer heaven. I’m so sorry about the lab move, I know what a pain it is to be so careful with all of the reactive chemicals and expensive equipment. Best of luck!

  25. Great roundup of pizza recipes! I don’t usually make my own dough, but you’ve totally inspired me to!

  26. danielle says:

    I have been eating and enjoying so much zucchini lately – I bet its great with some gouda.

  27. sandra says:

    so true – moving without pizza is like salt without pepper, mac without cheese, etc. I’ve made a few this summer already – just the simple kind… trying to perfect the thin crust crispiness and I think loading them doesn’t work out – I need to try out some pestos though… and alternate cheeses is a good idea too.

  28. sandra says:

    soundslike a Breaking Bad episode… were you channeling Walt?

  29. Erika says:

    Ha! This is definitely a perfect pizza to help cope with moving “week”

  30. Yum! I love pesto on pizza! I want some right now. This is prob ah-mazing as leftovers…if there are any leftovers 😉

  31. I have a fresh bunch of basil ready for making this pizza this weekend! I’ve worked in a lab one summer, and I wouldn’t dare touch anything I wasn’t supposed to because my klutzy ways would probably cause an accident. Not envious of your moving day!

  32. This should totally be called Italian Prode Pizza for it has ALL the colors of the Italian flag! LOVE the flavors too!

  33. Oh my goodness, I want to come over to your place for pizza night. This pizza is every kind of amazing! Aaaand I literally have all the ingredients I need to make this. 🙂 Good luck with the move, Joanne! Pinned.

  34. Amazing summer colour! The pizza looks awesome.
    Good luck with lab move!

  35. Joyti says:

    Ricin, 54 bottles of flammable liquid, AND tequila – sounds very dangerous. I’m glad you chose the pizza.

    This sounds delicious 🙂

  36. Oh my goodess this looks amazing!! I love veggie pizza so much.

  37. Eileen says:

    Moving offices is always the worst! I can’t even imagine what it must be like with a bunch of hazardous chemicals to move along with all the usual officey paraphernalia. Your whole lab definitely deserves a couple pizzas to celebrate! Or just to collapse — you know, either one. 🙂

  38. yum love a good pizza… and this looks divine – definitely will be giving this recipe a go. thanks for sharing!

  39. This pizza is perfect for this Friday! Moving day/week is never a good time, and pizza makes EVERYTHING better!

  40. Kathy says:

    Hope the move is going well…I’m sure this delicious looking pizza will help!! Have a good weekend!

  41. I love homemade pizza. This looks wonderful. I hate moving, so pizza is really a must.

  42. This pizza looks PHENOM-now I reeeeally wanna make myself some pesto pizza!!!

    and ugh you poor thing-I hope the moving of the lab all ended up ok!

  43. Fridays = pizza! Love the pesto on this pizza, delicious 🙂

  44. Kate says:

    Funny – I had a really similar pizza last weekend! But with summer squash instead of zucchini.

  45. These pizzas look so delicious, I love pesto, it is the ingredient of the gods 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  46. I’ve had a ‘let’s make pizza’ craving all week, Joanne. I still haven’t got around to it, but just by reading this post I feel like I’ve scratched that itch a little. I just made some pesto today which would make this pizza super easy to throw together. Sounds like you’ve got some super fresh tastes going on there!
    P.S You mean ricin a la Breaking Bad? Oooh, scary!

  47. This pizza looks amazing! I made a pizza di vendure last night for dinner and it tasted really amazing and summery! Love the addition of pesto with this pizza, definitely would love to try the recipe out!

  48. Nicole, RD says:

    Good thing I just made a TON of pesto. 🙂 🙂

  49. So, I don’t love pizza. Weird, right? But I DO on occasion enjoy a good veggie-piled slice. Weird, right? I maaaay have to try this recipe 🙂

  50. Oh yeah pizza is necessary always. Great flavors here!

  51. that looks so good – and I love pesto on my pizza, if I’m not ordering a white pizza, I always have pesto on mine. And the veggies – they just balance out all the guilt. I’d add some jalapeños and Im good to go.
    I haven’t been in my chemistry lab in years now, but all that mention of beakers and chemical bottles is making me nostalgic. I wouldn’t want to move a lab though! Glad you survived it.

  52. Megan says:

    I am growing so many cherry tomatoes. This pizza will be perfect for when they’re ripe!

  53. Hotly Spiced says:

    Moving is the absolute worst! I think it’s good you chose pizza because I think after a few tequilas you probably would have thrown that rock at him xx

  54. Von says:

    Wow…..moving is bad enough but yours sounds like the worst! 🙁 This pizza looks amazing though! A great reward for hard work! 😀

  55. Who doesn’t make pizza on moving day? Or drink?…. or cry? 😉

  56. My brother’s lab moved at the start of the year and I think he could have done with this. I think he may have erred slightly more towards the alcohol coping route though!!

  57. Leah Davis says:

    DYING to try pizza at home and you are giving me motivation to do it! This looks super delicious!!

  58. That’s one good looking pizza! I remember many times during a move waking up to cold leftover pizza to fuel yet another day of hard work. Pizza is a must!!

  59. I love veggie pizzas and this is right up my alley. Love the pesto in this, Jo!

  60. grace says:

    this is the kind of pizza i love–not too greasy, fresh and simple ingredients, and plenty of cheese. 🙂

  61. Moving day nightmare! This pizza would cure ALL the things that ail me. And tequila too (duh.). I super love vegetarian pizza and make them so often at home, much to the total chagrin of this brood of boys over here. Totally making this.

  62. I would also choose the pizza, especially with these flavours 🙂

  63. Kelly says:

    Yikes, sorry to hear about that – pizza is definitely the best for coping with a move. Love the pesto and all the summer veggies in this pizza – it looks amazing!

  64. Pizza is pretty much a weekly occurrence in my house and I just love pizza that is loaded with veggies! I was just at the store and stocked up on cherry tomatoes and zucchini, so this pizza is happening soon!

  65. Susan says:

    Hmmm, I hope I don’t have to make up a moving day to try these. I’ll guess I’ll opt for happiness 😉 Ricin! Yikes!!!

  66. YUM joanne- who can resist a pizza ? Delish!

  67. […] Cherry Tomato, Zucchini, and Pesto Pizza via Joanne Eats Well – My other half gets all huffy when I make vegetarian pizza. Annnnd I do not care. More for me. […]

  68. […] Joanne’s Cherry Tomato, Zucchini and Pesto Pizza […]

  69. […] Cherry Tomato, Zucchini, and Pesto Pizza via Joanne Eats Well – My other half gets all huffy when I make vegetarian pizza. Annnnd I do not care. More for me. […]

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