Easy Brussels Sprouts Pita Pizzas with Optional Bacon

I don’t eat fish, I can’t bring myself to like black-eyed peas (as hard as I try), and I keep forgetting to pick up grapes at the store.

There are tons of foods that are thought to bring those that feast upon them good luck and great fortune in the coming year, but this year, I thought maybe I’d try making a little bit of my own luck.

I mean, these Easy Brussels Sprouts Pita Pizzas feature a round shape to represent coins, the color green for money and luck, and deliciousness for, well, um … deliciousness.

These easy individual pizzas also represent, for me, more of what I’d like to keep doing with the recipes I create in 2014: keep it simple and seasonal, and, most importantly, keep it real. And I mean “real” in a couple of ways – I want to use even more whole, real foods in my kitchen, for one. But I’m not going to be all frou-frou about it. I also just want to make sure I come up with recipes that are realistic and relatively easy for busy home cooks – just like myself – to whip on up. No shaved truffles or croquembouche in 2014, I don’t think. I mean, I wouldn’t know what to do with either of those things, anyway. I didn’t even know how to spell croquembouche. Thanks, Google!

So! About these (hopefully) lucky little pizzas. Baked up on pita breads, the “crusts” for these pizzas couldn’t be any easier if they tried. And with just a handful of ingredients, they come together in a flash. From fridge to oven in under 10 minutes.

I love Brussels sprouts, so when I realized I didn’t have any recipes with Brussels yet on Kitchen Treaty, I was stunned. And I possibly even wanted to cry a little. But I’m thrilled that this recipe is the first featuring them, as they’re actually one of my favorite veggies – and I’ve gotta say, I am actually a little bit in love with these pizzas.

And so, some lucky – and delicious – green pizzas for Near Year’s – with a little bacon love for the meat-eaters, to boot.

Happy 2014!

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 8 mins

Total: 18 mins

Easy Brussels Sprouts Pita Pizzas with Optional Bacon

4.75 from 4 votes

Assemble these delectable little pita pizzas in under 10 minutes. The shredded Brussels sprouts roast to perfection, and they're the perfect partner for a light sprinkling of melty mozzarella, sweet onions, and the touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes.

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Yield: 4 pizzas

Ingredients

• 4 pita breads
• 1/4 cup olive oil + a little more for drizzling
• 3 medium cloves garlic (minced (about 1 tablespoon))
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (can sub vegan cheese)
• 1/2 small sweet onion (sliced)
• 1/2 pound Brussels sprouts
• 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

If adding bacon:

• 1 slice bacon (cooked, drained, and crumbled, per pita pizza)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a medium bowl, mix the 1/4 cup olive oil with the minced garlic.
• Place pitas on a baking sheet. Brush the top of each pita with a little of the olive oil garlic mixture.
• Lay onions on pitas, then sprinkle each with 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella.
• Slice the stem end off of the Brussels sprouts and peel off the outer layer or two of leaves. Rinse and dry. Thinly slice sprouts from end to top. Add to bowl with remaining olive oil and garlic, and toss well.
• Divide Brussels sprouts between each pizza. Pile loosely to about 1/2 inch of the edge of the pitas.
• Top individual pizzas with crumbled bacon, if using.
• Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, along with a generous pinch of kosher salt (use a light hand with the salt on those with bacon), and freshly ground black pepper.
• Drizzle each lightly with about another teaspoon of olive oil.
• Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until pitas are golden brown and getting crisp around the edges, the cheese is melted, and the shredded Brussels are tender.
• Cut into quarters and serve.

Notes

Assemble these delectable little pita pizzas in under 10 minutes. The shredded Brussels sprouts roast to perfection, and they're the perfect partner for a light sprinkling of melty mozzarella, sweet onions, and the touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes.