Serrano Ham and Mozzarella Pita Pizzas with Za'atar and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

These serrano ham and mozzarella pita pizzas are a quick and easy lunch or dinner, when you don't have time to make your own pizza dough or have leftover pitas (like I had). The deep flavored and salty serrano ham, mild and milky mozzarella with the savory za'atar spice blend, this is a fulfilling and tasty meal. Adding some spinach or arugula to omph up the freshness.

 

 

More ideas I think you would love include:

• Homemade pizza rolls (you can use the same sauce if you like!)
• Mango prosciutto salad with burrata, here you can use serrano ham if you have any leftovers
• Middle Eastern flatbread with ground beef and mint for a different kind of pizza!
• Homemade naan with garlic and cilantro (albeit the latter is optional)

 

Download your FREE copy of Travels Through the Seasons Cookbook here!

 

 

Serrano Ham and Mozzarella Pita Pizzas with Za'atar and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

 

Serrano ham

So, I googled serrano ham and then I read that serrano ham wasn't that normal in the US? Am I misunderstanding something? Because I see it everywhere here in Norway, in the ham section or in the tapas section of the grocery stores. It's a great ham cured in the country air, giving it a deep and flavorful aroma.

 

This made me sound reeally snobby, you can of course use any kind of ham you want. But ham can be many different things. I also use the Norwegian Strandaskinke, prosciutto or other similar kinds. They all are great. I'm sure you could even put pepperoni or chorizo on and it will be good.

 

 

Sun-dried tomato pesto

The tomato sauce was made with things I just had laying around, and as I had just made a delicious batch of sun-dried tomato pesto, so this was a natural choice. You don't have to make this pesto to make delicious serrano ham and mozzarella pita pizzas, but it's a nice touch with the sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts.

 

The flavor will be rounder and more complex, but sometimes we just need it to be quick and easy. Your call. Delicious nevertheless.

 

 

Za'atar

Homemade za'atar mixed with olive oil is a great way to add flavor to the pizzas, and it also provides more of a moist dressing feeling to it. How do you explain that? Hmm.

 

Anyway, the beauty of drizzling it over after it's baked is that you can drizzle as much or as little as you want on every pita, as they are portion sized. Perfect when making it with picky kids! Or adults... (Here's a store bought if you can't make your own.)

 

 

And it's so easy

Just mix all the ingredients for the tomato sauce in a small bowl (tomato puree through garlic powder). Spread on top of four pitas. Chop up vegetables of choice, I had onion and red peppers, but squash and mushrooms would also be good. Sprinkle on top. Add the fresh mozzarella cheese and the ham.

 

Bake in the oven at 200C (400F) for around 9 minutes, until nice and crispy pitas with melted mozzarella. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 teaspoon of za'atar with 2 tablespoon of olive oil and drizzle as much or as little as you want on top of the pitas. Sprinkle with chili flakes and serve with fresh arugula or spinach.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Other easy dinners:

• Chinese Sesame Fried Rice
• Vegan Thai Lemongrass Noodle Soup
• Middle Eastern Pizza with Minced Beef and Mint
• Mango Chipotle Quinoa Bowl with Lime Chicken
• Curry Coconut Carrot Soup

 

Hope you'll like it! Tell me what you think, either in the comment section below, or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. Don't forget to Pin it for later!

 






 

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