Crustless Delight: Individual Microwaved Pork (or Beef) Pizzas
Dive into a fun and flexible cooking experience with these individual crustless pizzas. Perfect for family cooking nights, each person can customize their pizza with their favorite toppings. This delightful dish combines lean ground pork (or beef) with a zesty tomato base and an array of colorful vegetables, all topped with gooey melted cheese. Quick to prepare and cook in the microwave, these mini pizzas are a fuss-free way to satisfy those pizza cravings without the carbs of traditional crusts. Whether you're a kid or just young at heart, these pizzas promise to please everyone at the table. Enjoy togetherness and creativity as you build your own delicious mini masterpieces!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
ground pork
1 lb (as lean as possible; may substitute with ground beef)
breadcrumbs
3/4 cup (plain or seasoned)
onion
1 (finely chopped)
garlic clove
1 (crushed)
paprika
1 teaspoon (for seasoning)
dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon (for seasoning)
soy sauce
2 teaspoons (for seasoning)
tomato paste
1/2 cup (to spread on meat mixture)
sugar
1 teaspoon (to sweeten tomato sauce)
dried basil
1/2 teaspoon (for seasoning)
mushrooms
3 ounces (sliced)
grape tomatoes
12 (sliced)
black olives
12 (sliced)
green pepper
1 small (chopped)
mozzarella cheese
2/3 cup (shredded)
parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons (grated)
Instructions
1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork (or beef), breadcrumbs, finely chopped onion, crushed garlic, paprika, dried oregano, and soy sauce. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
2
Evenly press the meat mixture into six microwave-safe dishes, ensuring the mixture covers the bottom evenly.
3
In a separate bowl, blend the tomato paste with sugar and dried basil. Spread this mixture evenly over each portion of the meat mixture in the dishes.
4
Distribute the sliced mushrooms, grape tomatoes, sliced olives, and chopped green pepper evenly across each mini pizza.
5
In the microwave, cook three pizzas at a time on MED-HIGH for 3 minutes. While they cook, prepare the cheese by dividing it into two batches of 1/3 cup mozzarella and 1 1/2 tablespoons parmesan.
6
Once the first cooking phase is done, carefully rotate the dishes and sprinkle one batch of the cheese mixture over the pizzas. Return to the microwave and cook for another 3 minutes or until the ground meat is fully cooked and the cheeses are melted.
7
Repeat the cooking process for the remaining three pizzas. Before serving, drain any excess oil or juices from all pizzas.
8
For a delightful finish, serve these crustless pizzas with a fresh family favorite salad and some crispy garlic bread or toasted pita pockets spread with garlic butter.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main concept of the Crustless Delight recipe?
This recipe creates individual, customizable pizzas using a seasoned meat base instead of a traditional bread crust, specifically designed to be cooked in the microwave.
What meat can I use for the pizza base?
You can use lean ground pork or substitute it with ground beef depending on your preference.
How many individual pizzas does this recipe make?
The recipe is designed to produce six individual mini pizzas.
What kind of dishes should I use for microwave cooking?
You should use microwave-safe dishes that allow the meat mixture to be pressed evenly into the bottom of each container.
What ingredients are used to season the meat base?
The meat is seasoned with breadcrumbs, finely chopped onion, crushed garlic, paprika, dried oregano, and soy sauce.
How do I prepare the pizza sauce?
The sauce is a blend of tomato paste, sugar, and dried basil, which is spread evenly over the meat bases.
What vegetable toppings are recommended in the recipe?
The recipe calls for sliced mushrooms, grape tomatoes, sliced black olives, and chopped small green pepper.
What is the required microwave power setting?
The pizzas should be cooked on the MED-HIGH setting for the best results.
Can I cook all six pizzas at the same time?
No, the instructions specify cooking three pizzas at a time for even heat distribution.
How long is the initial cooking phase?
The first cooking phase lasts for 3 minutes on the MED-HIGH setting.
What cheeses are used for the topping?
A combination of shredded mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese is used.
When is the cheese added to the pizzas?
The cheese is added after the first 3-minute cooking cycle and after the dishes have been rotated.
How much cheese is allocated for each batch of three?
For each batch of three pizzas, use 1/3 cup of mozzarella and 1 1/2 tablespoons of parmesan.
How long is the final cooking phase?
After adding the cheese, cook the pizzas for another 3 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked and the cheese is melted.
What should I do before serving the pizzas?
You should carefully drain any excess oil or juices from the pizzas before serving.
What are some suggested side dishes for this meal?
Serve these crustless pizzas with a fresh salad and crispy garlic bread or toasted pita pockets with garlic butter.
Is this recipe suitable for family activities?
Yes, it is described as a fun and flexible experience perfect for family cooking nights.
Are these pizzas customizable?
Yes, each person can customize their individual pizza with their favorite toppings.
What type of breadcrumbs should I use?
You can use either plain or seasoned breadcrumbs for the meat mixture.
How should the onion be prepared for this recipe?
The onion needs to be finely chopped to ensure it mixes well with the meat.
How much garlic is required?
The recipe requires one crushed garlic clove.
Why is soy sauce added to the meat mixture?
Soy sauce is used as a seasoning to provide a savory depth to the ground meat base.
What is the purpose of adding sugar to the sauce?
A small amount of sugar is added to the tomato paste to sweeten the sauce.
How many mushrooms are needed?
The recipe calls for 3 ounces of sliced mushrooms.
What is the quantity of grape tomatoes used?
You will need 12 grape tomatoes, which should be sliced before topping.
How many black olives are required?
The recipe uses 12 sliced black olives.
What size green pepper should I buy?
One small green pepper, chopped, is sufficient for the six pizzas.
Why must the dishes be rotated during cooking?
Rotating the dishes helps the microwave cook the meat and melt the cheese evenly.
Is this a good recipe for a quick snack?
Yes, because it is quick to prepare and cook in the microwave, it works well as a snack or a meal.
What is the total amount of mozzarella cheese needed?
You will need a total of 2/3 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese for the entire recipe.