Garden Fresh Pizza from Papa John's features a vibrant combination of ripe tomatoes, fresh green peppers, crisp onions, mushrooms, and black olives atop a golden, hand-tossed crust, delivering a deliciously colorful and savory veggie-packed experience.
Equipments
- Pizza oven
- Dough roller or rolling pin
- Pizza peel
- Pizza cutter
- Cutting board
- Vegetable slicer or chef's knife
- Mixing bowls
- Ladle (for sauce)
- Baking tray or pizza screen
- Grater (for cheese)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- For the crust:
- 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp/7g) active dry yeast
- 1 ¼ cups (300ml) warm water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- For the sauce:
- 1 cup (240ml) pizza sauce
- For the toppings:
- 1 ½ cups (170g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (80g) sliced ripe tomatoes
- ½ cup (60g) sliced green bell peppers
- ½ cup (60g) sliced onions
- ½ cup (60g) sliced fresh mushrooms
- ⅓ cup (50g) sliced black olives
- For finishing:
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal (for dusting peel or tray)
Using fresh, high-quality vegetables like ripe tomatoes, green bell peppers, and crisp onions is crucial to replicate the vibrant taste of the Garden Fresh Pizza. Ensure your active dry yeast is fresh to achieve a light and airy crust with the right texture. Measure your ingredients accurately, especially the flour and water, to maintain the perfect dough consistency. You should dust your pizza peel or baking tray with cornmeal to prevent sticking and give the crust a slightly crunchy finish. This copycat Garden Fresh Pizza from Papa John's combines these fresh veggies and a hand-tossed crust for a colorful, savory, and satisfying homemade delight.
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Preheat pizza oven to 475°F (245°C).
- In a mixing bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water; let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add olive oil, salt, and flour to yeast mixture; mix until dough forms.
- Knead dough on a floured surface for 7–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
- Punch down dough and divide if making smaller pizzas.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a dough roller or rolling pin to desired thickness.
- Dust pizza peel or baking tray with cornmeal.
- Transfer rolled dough onto the prepared peel or tray.
- Ladle and spread pizza sauce evenly over dough.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over sauce.
- Arrange sliced tomatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and black olives evenly atop cheese.
- Slide pizza onto pizza oven stone or place tray in oven.
- Bake 12–15 minutes, or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Remove pizza using a peel; cool slightly on cutting board.
- Slice with pizza cutter and serve.
Substitution
The Garden Fresh Pizza copycat recipe from Papa John's combines ripe tomatoes, crisp green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and black olives on a hand-tossed crust, creating a vibrant and savory veggie delight. If you don't have all these vegetables on hand, you can easily swap in other fresh veggies like spinach, artichokes, or zucchini to suit your taste or what's available. When rolling out your dough, use a dough roller or rolling pin to achieve an even thickness, but a clean bottle can work in a pinch. You can substitute mozzarella with a blend of cheddar and provolone for a different flavor profile while keeping the melty texture. Make sure to dust your pizza peel or baking tray with cornmeal to prevent sticking and ensure an easy transfer to your pizza oven or regular oven.
Tips
Make sure your yeast is active by checking for a foamy layer after dissolving it in warm water; otherwise, the dough won't rise properly. Letting your dough rest and rise in a warm, draft-free environment ensures it doubles in size and achieves the right texture. Dusting your pizza peel or tray with cornmeal prevents sticking and makes transferring the pizza easier. When arranging your toppings, spreading them evenly helps your Garden Fresh Pizza bake uniformly, giving you a perfectly balanced bite every time.
Nutritions
Garden Fresh Pizza from Papa John's offers a nutritious meal rich in vitamins and minerals from its array of fresh vegetables like tomatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and black olives. The hand-tossed crust contributes carbohydrates and fiber from the all-purpose flour, while mozzarella cheese provides a good source of protein and calcium. Olive oil used in the dough adds heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, enhancing the overall nutritional quality of the pizza. You can enjoy this colorful, veggie-packed dish as a balanced option that supports a well-rounded diet.
Storage
Store leftover Garden Fresh Pizza in an airtight container to maintain its freshness and prevent it from drying out. Refrigerate the pizza within two hours of baking and consume within 3 to 4 days for optimal taste and safety. When reheating, use a pizza oven or conventional oven set to 375degF (190degC) to restore the crust's crispness and evenly warm the toppings.
Variation or Alternatives
For a variation on the crust, try substituting half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour to add a nutty flavor and extra fiber. You can enhance the sauce by mixing in crushed garlic or Italian herbs like oregano and basil for a more aromatic base. Swap mozzarella for a blend of mozzarella and provolone cheese to create a richer, creamier texture. Your toppings can also include fresh spinach or artichoke hearts for an added nutritional boost and more complex veggie flavors.
Allergies
Your Garden Fresh Pizza contains common allergens including gluten from all-purpose flour and dairy from shredded mozzarella cheese. Individuals with wheat or milk allergies should avoid this dish or consider suitable substitutes. Cross-contamination with other allergens may also occur during preparation, so it's important to check with Papa John's if you have severe sensitivities.
Why this recipe?
Garden Fresh Pizza from Papa John's features a vibrant blend of crisp tomatoes, fresh onions, green peppers, and mushrooms, offering a wholesome and flavorful experience tailored for vegetable lovers. Its balanced combination of garden-fresh ingredients and Papa John's signature dough creates a satisfying texture and taste that stands out in the pizza market. Making a copycat version allows you to customize ingredient quality and freshness, saving money while enjoying a personalized favorite at home. Your taste buds will appreciate the rich flavors and the opportunity to experiment with variations to suit your preferences.