Pizza Salad

Ever want pepperoni pizza but know you really need a salad? This pizza salad satisfies your bread craving and gives you fresh greens. This is YUMMY!

• Ready In: 38 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• Tomato-Basil Dressing

• 2  plum tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 2  garlic cloves, sliced
• 3  tablespoons  balsamic vinegar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 1⁄4 cup fresh basil leaf, loosely packed

• Salad

• 3  medium tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, diced
• 1⁄2 cup fresh basil leaf, loosely packed
• 6  cups green leaf lettuce, pieces
• 2  ounces  sliced  pepperoni
• 1  italian pizza  bread pizza crust (I like a loaf of foccacia with sun dried tomato)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 450.
2. For the dressing: Mix tomato, oil, and garlic in a small skillet or saucepan.
3. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, breaking apart the tomatoes with a spoon.
4. Transfer to a blender and add vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, and basil.
5. Pulse to blend and set dressing aside.
6. Place prepared pizza shell on rack in 450 degree oven.
7. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until shell is crisp and lightly browned.
8. For the salad, combine the tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, lettuce, and pepperoni in a large bowl.
9. Remove pizza shell from the oven and slice into bite-sized pieces.
10. Add pizza pieces to the bowl and toss with dressing.