Moroccan Roasted Garlic Pesto and Cashew Pizza
Time to step a little outside the box today.
With spiced up Moroccan Roasted Garlic Pesto and Cashew Pizza!
Trust me, I was scared.
Like very scared.
But thankfully it ended good!
Love. When. That. Happens.
This was my first venture into Moroccan cooking and even though I can’t honestly sit and tell you that this is an authentic Moroccan recipe, I can tell you it is dang good.
And my crazy brother Brendan would most likely tell you it is the best pizza he has ever had, but you can’t fully trust is opinion because like I said, he is totally crazy.
He does like good food though.
And apparently he really loves Moroccan. I guess there are a few places in the Portland, OR and Tahoe, CA area with some killer Moroccan food.
The only reason I am thinking this might not be all that authentic of a Moroccan recipe is because of all the cheese. All the warm ooey gooey fresh mozzarella AND feta cheese.
You can’t do pizza, not matter what ethic background it has, without cheese.
You just can’t.
And don’t try to tell me otherwise, because I’ll most likely argue it to the grave.
Now, let’s talk about the pesto.
Yeah, I am making you turn your ovens on. Sorry, but not really because it is totally worth it. Plus, I have now done two meal in a row that require no oven. This California Chicken and Rice Bowl and the Caribbean Jerk Salmon Tostadas (fine, you have to use the broiler for like a millisecond. I am not counting that.)
So what makes up Moroccan pesto (err…what I am calling Moroccan pesto)? Roasted garlic, cilantro, parsley and mint. It’s like a flavor bomb and it’s awesome. If you have any leftover you can eat it with naan (so good, just made this), pita bread, toast, spread it on sandwiches and on everything in between. It’s so crazy good.
I love roasted garlic and cilantro.
Oh and also mint. Ever since this Mint Pesto Pasta I have been looking for more savory ways to use mint. Any good ideas?
Other than the pesto this pizza also has tons of fresh late summer veggies.
Ah wait, late summer?? When and how did that happen? Please slow down time, please?
Back to the pizza. This thing is loaded with zucchini, red peppers and artichokes. It is kind of perfect for this time of year. So fresh, light and full of flavor!
Oh and the cashews? Well, those I have been adding to just about everything lately. Trust me, you’ll see soon.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Moroccan Roasted Garlic Pesto and Cashew Pizza
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Moroccan
Keyword: Moroccan pizza
This was my first venture into Moroccan cooking and even though I can't honestly sit and tell you that this is an authentic Moroccan recipe, I can tell you it is dang good
Ingredients
- 1 pound of your favorite pizza dough
Moroccan Roasted Garlic Pesto
Toppings
- 1 small Zucchini sliced into thin rounds (or half of a large)
- 1 roasted red pepper sliced thin strips (or half of a large)
- 6 ounce jar marinated artichokes
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne use less for less heat
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/3 cup kalamata olives or a mix of green + kalamata
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbed
- 1/4 cup roasted cashews
Instructions
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Prepare the [dough | https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/thai-pizza/] 1 1/2 to 2 hours ahead of time. While the dough rises roast the garlic and make the pesto.
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Preheat oven to 375. Chop off the top portion of the garlic head to reveal cloves. Peel any excess paper/skin off from the bulb of garlic. Pour about a teaspoon of olive oil on top the garlic cloves and cover with foil and roast in a baking dish for 45 minutes, or until golden brown and soft. Allow to cool and then squeeze garlic out of the paper skin into a small bowl, set aside.
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Place the cilantro, parsley, mint, jalapeño, garlic and cashews in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times until well chopped. Stream in the olive oil and pulse until combined. Add the feta and pulse a few more times or until combined.
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
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In a large bowl add the zucchini, pepper and drained artichokes. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil, the smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, turmeric, and a pinch of pepper. Toss really well making sure the spices are evenly coating the veggies and there are no clumps. Set aside.
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Once the pizza dough is ready to go, divide the dough in half. Place half the dough aside for another use (or make 2 pizzas) or freeze for later. With the remaining dough roll/press into one 10 to 12 inch round circle or rectangle (you may go smaller or larger depending on how thick you want your crust). Top with as much of the pesto as desired and then sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese. Add the veggies in an even layer. Then sprinkle on the olives and half the feta cheese.
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Bake at 375 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until your desired doneness. You may also cook this pizza on a pizza stone or using the [skillet method | https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/green-olive-pesto-pizza-with-roasted-red-peppers-and-feta-stuffed-crust/], but I recommend cooking the veggies before hand.
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Let the pizza sit five minutes and then sprinkle with the roasted cashews and the remaining feta. Cut and serve!
Recipe Notes
Nutritional values are based on one 12 inch pizza
I promise I’ll be back to norm. I am thinking chocolate?? I’ll gladly take suggestions though??
I LOVE pesto sauce and authentic or not, this Moroccan-style pizza looks amazing! So fresh with all them veggies!!
Thank you, Julia!! I loved all the veggies too. So summery!
the cashews sucked me right in! Not sure about the mint though, but I trust you…you are one creative crazy cook and I do appreciate that! So I will give it a try, maybe tweak it just a bit~but I love all the unexpected ingredients here, thanks!
Oh thanks so much, Jenna! You are so nice!!
If you are not into the mint you can sub more parsley, but honestly the mint is good! Thanks again and I hope you love this!
I always love pesto on pizzas. There are so many great flavors here and I’m very impressed with your photography as always.
Thank you so much, Jen!
Pesto on pizza really is the best and thank you so much for your kind words about my photos. Thant means so much to me!!
What a gorgeous pizza! Love the flavours in it!
Thank you so much, Kevin!! This was my first dabble in Moroccan flavors and I Loved it!
I love recipes like this (don’t stop!)—they totally make me think about dishes and flavors in a new way. For example, I never would have thought to put all of this on a pizza, but now I will 🙂
And I totally agree, it’s not a pizza without cheese. Except maybe a marinara pizza in Naples, which I must say, was incredible.
Naples?!? Lucky you!! I bet that pizza was awesome….even without cheese!!
Thanks so much, Laura!!
Wow that looks incredible! Definitely want to give this a try, thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks Eric! Let me know if you do!!
Hope you love it!
I’ve never tried Moroccan food, but this pizza looks so darn amazing that I’m definitely giving it a go soon! Love the cashews addition, they’re great on just about everything!
And lovely pictures, as always! 🙂
Cashews are seriously so good on everything. We love them!
Thank you!
Oh my gosh, T – this is gorgeous! Totally craving a slice right now!
Thank you so much, Ashley! Wish I could send you a slice!
Moroccan pizza? Girl, this is awesome!! I wish I had a slice right now
Thanks Steph!! Wish I could send you a slice!
I’m a big fan of the Moroccan flavor palette (my PALATE loves is harhar), so can’t wait to try this. Plus — my mint has been very prolific this year and this is a good suggestion for how to use it – thanks! It looks pretty easily adaptable for GF or vegan, as well. Ah, cheese. . .
Thank MaryBeth!! Hope you love this…even without the cheese!! I am sure it will still be awesome!
I love pizza loaded with veggies. Love the Moroccan twist!
Thanks Cassie! Veggie pizzas are my favorite!
This is exactly everything I love about bloggers and blogging. Taking fantastic ingredients and pairing them in a way that is over the top outstanding. You do this fantastically! This rocks. So gorgeous and mouthwatering!
Awe, thank you so much!! I am so happy you like my over the top, sometimes odd foods! LOL!
Thanks so very much, Maria!
Omg this looks incredible!!! I love that gooey oozy cheese picture! 😀
Thank you so much, Becca!! Gooey oozy cheese is the best!
Aaaaahhhhknihdfii Tieghan!!! This looks amazing! Batman symbol in the sky, amazing. Minions doing a musical, amazing. GET IN MY BELLAY AMAZING!!!
Excuse me while I go cry over the fact that I have a few chores before going to the grocery store and getting what I need to make this. I want it NOW!
Haha! Thank you so much, Dani!!!
Let me know what you think. Hope you love it!!
Ohh I would love to have this pizza for lunch.
Thanks Meagan! Wish is could send you a slice or two!
First, I totally agree. Pizza without cheese is not pizza, it’s just stuff on flatbread. Second, cashews make everything better. You can put cashews on my pizza any day!
Yes and yes! You totally get me!! Cashews and cheese rule! Lol!
Thanks Jen!
have mercy! That looks sooo good I had to get up and eat something. I was salivating!
Incredible.. you impress me everyday.
hehe!! Thank you so much!!!
Happy to impress you everyday and thanks for reading everyday. You are the best!
Wow, this pizza sounds amazing! I know my whole family would love this. I definitely have to try this real soon. Pinning! 🙂
Thank you so much, Liz!! Hope you guys love this one!
This looks like the best pizza ever, must try it on the grill!
Thanks Laura!! I was just saying that I wish I would have grilled this pizza! Hope you love it!
Cheese is totally required for sure! 😉 This pizza looks amazing!
I know, right?!? Thanks Jennifer!
That pizza in the first picture – I could just fold it up and eat it!
Oh wait…what’s this about cutting and serving at the end of your post?!?!?!?!!!!! 🙂
Seriously though – somethings are not meant for sharing!
Love that you used pesto instead of a tomato sauce for this pizza! Gorgeous photos!
Haha!! Thank you so much, Shashi!!
Oh my gosh, so much talent! How in the world did you figure out how to make a Moroccan pizza if you’ve never made anything Moroccan before? It looks amazing, and I love all the veggies and spices and CHEESE you used. Pizza is. never. pizza. without cheese. I mean, I basically eat pizza for the warm, gooey, melted cheese. YUM!
Google!! Lol!! I google everything and like I said in the post. I am not 100% sure this is totally 100% Moroccan, but it was delcious!
Thank you so much, Alexandra!
I love the ingredients you’ve added to this pizza recipe! Sounds amazing!
Thank you so much, Robyn!
Oh my gosh this looks amazing! I am making pizza with my in laws this weekend and now I know what kind I am trying! Thanks for this recipe!
Oh I hope you love it!! Thanks so much, Taylor!
Gorgeous flavors on this pizza!! I want it now!!
Thank you so much, Julie! After watching you grilled pizza video I was wishing I would have grilled this!
Moroccan flavors are my FAVORITE. Want to shove my face in this pie.
Hehe! I am loving the Moroccan flavors, they are so fun!!
Thanks Joanne!
This is amazing, girl!
Thank you, Rachel!!
Oh and I am working on my email to you, so much fun!
This pizza sounds amazing, such wonderful flavors. I love the colors of it.
Thank you so much, Dawn!
I don’t think I’ve ever had Moroccan food before but this pizza is totally going to be my gateway into it! Looks and sounds AMAZING.
Thanks Stephanie!
I really love love pizzas – they can be pretty healthy and full of fun ingredients. I’d love to try this one – the pesto sounds awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Maria!
I looooooooove Moroccan food! It’s very close to the food that my family and I eat since we’re Algerian! I can’t wait to try this Tieghan, it looks delicious!
Thank you so much, Mimi!
Oh my gosh, this looks DELICIOUS.
Thank you so much, Jess!
This looks INSANELY good! I haven’t tried mint pesto yet, but I have a bushel of basil ready to be turned into pesto. I will have to add mint to one of the batches. Ever since we went to Morocco earlier this summer I have been craving Moroccan flavors. Since I adore pizza, this looks like the perfect place to start!
Whoa! Morocco?!? How fun!! Hope you do give this a try, that way you can tell me if you think it is truly authentic Moroccan!
Thanks so much, Amy!
This pizza was awesome! I featured it in my most recent meal plan on my blog http://rainbowdelicious.com/meal-plan-summer-week-10/. FYI under the list of ingredients for the pesto the bulb of garlic is not listed, it is easy to figure out that you need it as you read the instructions but I thought you might want to know! Your recipes are always so great, I look forward to trying more in the future!
Thank you so much, Emily! I am thrilled you love this pizza!! And thanks for letting me know about the garlic. I will fix that!
I can hardly wait to make this yummy-looking pizza!
I tried to pin it, but when I clicked on the P logo, something else came up — nice, but it didn’t include the pizza!
Thanks so much for the recipe, and the pix.
Hey Vicki,
If you hover you mousse over the photo of the pizza there is a pin it button at the top of every picture. That should work, but let me know if you have problems!
Thanks for the sweet comment and I hope you love this pizza!
Thanks — I just pinned it successfully!
I’ll make the pizza this weekend — I can hardly wait to taste it — it’s nice when something that looks really healthy also looks delicious!
Thanks Vicki! Hope you love it!
Why do you tag it “vegan” when it’s made with cheese and other non vegan stuff?
Hi, I must have tagged this that was as a mistake. Sorry.
I don’t think this pizza has any Moroccan stuff at all. BTW I’m moroccan and it kind of offends me a little bit to call it a Moroccan pizza
Very eager to try it. Just to clarify- the roasted Garlic goes in the pestO?
Yup! In the pesto. Hope you love the pizza!
Hey
First off im loving the name!! Hahaha
Second. I tried this one at home and was an instant hit!! And then become the most popular item on the menu so far this week at work! I imagine I’ll be checking you out regularly for amazing food for my menu at a new kithen in a few months if you dont mind me pinching a few ideas off you?! Haha
Keep up the amazing work your doing!!!
Much love! Wylie.
Made this last night and it was so good. And that pesto was so fresh and clean tasting just what i needed in springtime Tasmania. Thank you.
Thank you Rachael! How wonderful to hear from Tasmania!
Wow superr!! thanks for sharing… 😊
Thanks so much!