Don’t let those slightly tired vegetables go to waste! Transform them into a vibrant and incredibly delicious meal with this Roasted Vegetable Pizza with Ranch. It’s a simple, flavorful solution to a common kitchen dilemma.
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Roasted Vegetable Pizza with Ranch: A Flavorful Solution to Food Waste
There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from navigating the aisles of a grocery store, particularly the produce section. The vibrant colors, the earthy scents – it’s a feast for the senses. While I usually stick to my grocery list, sometimes a special sale or a sudden burst of culinary inspiration leads me to pick up extra fruits and vegetables. More recently, I’ve discovered the incredible treasure trove of “ugly” or “older” produce sections, where perfectly good, albeit imperfect, fruits and vegetables are sold at a significant discount. This approach not only saves money but also plays a crucial role in reducing food waste, a mission I deeply care about.
My enthusiasm for these discounted finds often means my refrigerator’s veggie drawer quickly fills up, sometimes overflowing with produce that needs to be used sooner rather than later. This includes not just my recent bargain acquisitions, but also those forgotten gems that have been patiently waiting in the back of the crisper. It’s a common scenario for many home cooks: a refrigerator brimming with good intentions, but sometimes a little too much produce nearing its expiration. The good news is, there’s absolutely no need to discard these items!
Join the #TasteNotWaste Movement with Hidden Valley®
Instead of fearing the slightly wrinkly or less-than-perfect produce, embrace its potential! Today, I’m thrilled to partner with Hidden Valley® to highlight their inspiring #TasteNotWaste campaign. This initiative is designed to encourage everyone to reduce food waste, with an ambitious goal of cutting food waste by 50% by 2030. This is a cause that truly resonates with me, and tackling the issue of “ugly” vegetables is an excellent starting point.
The truth is, a vegetable’s appearance rarely dictates its flavor or nutritional value. Bruised, misshapen, or nearing its expiration date, these vegetables are often still perfectly delicious and can be transformed into incredible meals. The #TasteNotWaste campaign champions this idea, reminding us that beauty is often in the eye of the beholder—or in this case, the palate of the eater! You can discover a wealth of creative ways to utilize these overlooked vegetables by following the hashtag #TasteNotWaste on social media. Hidden Valley® has even released limited-edition bottles of their Original Ranch® featuring less-than-perfect produce, which were sold on eBay with all proceeds benefiting Great Nations Eat©. It’s a fantastic example of a brand taking a stand for sustainability and inspiring consumers to do the same.
To learn more about the impactful #TasteNotWaste campaign and discover how you can contribute to reducing food waste, visit Hidden Valley® on their official website, or connect with them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
The Magic of Roasting: Rescuing Your Vegetables
When faced with a bin full of vegetables that are on the verge of turning, my go-to method is almost always roasting. Roasting is a culinary superpower, capable of transforming even the saddest-looking vegetables into sweet, tender, and intensely flavorful components. The beauty of roasting lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. It doesn’t matter if your produce is a bit soft, slightly bruised, or oddly shaped; the high heat of the oven caramelizes their natural sugars, enhancing their taste and making them irresistibly delicious. Plus, it’s an incredibly efficient way to cook a large quantity of vegetables with minimal effort, making it the perfect strategy for clearing out a full veggie drawer.
To achieve perfectly roasted vegetables every time, consider these simple tips: ensure your vegetables are cut into roughly uniform pieces for even cooking, toss them generously with a good quality olive oil, and season them simply with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Don’t overcrowd your baking sheet; giving them enough space allows for proper caramelization and prevents them from steaming instead of roasting. Stirring them once or twice during cooking also helps ensure a consistent golden-brown finish. This method not only saves your produce but also creates a versatile ingredient that can elevate countless dishes, from simple side dishes to elaborate main courses.
Introducing the Roasted Vegetable Pizza with Ranch
One day, confronted by a sizable bag of Brussels sprouts nearing their expiration, alongside an array of other fridge-dwelling vegetables, a brilliant idea struck me: a roasted vegetable pizza! Pizza night is a sacred tradition in our household, occurring almost weekly, so transforming our surplus veggies into a gourmet pizza felt like a natural, logical, and undeniably delicious decision. And what better companion for a medley of roasted vegetables than creamy, tangy ranch dressing?
My husband and kids are firm believers that pizza is best enjoyed with a side of ranch for dipping. So, instead of a traditional tomato-based pizza sauce, I decided to make Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing the star of the show as the base. This innovative twist creates a wonderfully rich and zesty foundation for the toppings. Layered with an abundance of those perfectly roasted vegetables and a generous blanket of melted mozzarella cheese, this pizza becomes a hearty, satisfying, and incredibly flavorful meal. It’s a testament to how humble ingredients can be elevated into something truly extraordinary with a little creativity and a lot of flavor.
I genuinely believe there’s no better way to celebrate and savor those “unloveable” vegetables than by bringing them together on this spectacular Roasted Vegetable Pizza with Ranch. It’s a dish that proves good food can come from fighting food waste, one delicious slice at a time!
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Roasted Vegetable Pizza with Ranch
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Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped vegetables I used broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and Brussels sprouts
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 lb pizza dough
- 1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® dressing
- 4-6 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 450ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil.
- In a bowl, combine the vegetables with the olive oil, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread the vegetables on the baking sheet. Place in the oven and roast until the vegetables are soft and browned, about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Roll the dough out. Spread the ranch dressing over the top of the dough. Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the ranch, then add the vegetables. Transfer the pizza to the pizza stone in the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted, 10-12 minutes.
- Serve with additional ranch dressing, if desired.
Recipe Notes:
