I have another steller recipe to share with y’all today! I was a little worried about this one, but fear not! No worrying was necessary. I had been craving pizza again, well maybe it was more of a craving for a crunchy brown rice tortilla with tomato paste (so good!), but I wanted to make it a substantial dinner. I have also been intrigued by ground chicken. So gross, but very versatile. It could be used for burgers, sauces, stir frys, or pizza! Thus, I chose the latter. Of course you can make your own ground chicken, but that is rather difficult so I took the plunge and found some clean lean ground chicken at the grocery.
My mom was a bit skeptical when I told her I was going to try my hand at meatballs. She assumed this wouldn’t work because I wouldn’t be using eggs. Well, ha, no one needs eggs. Get with the times! I used a much better, vegan, healthier replacement with the wonderful flax egg! Vegan seed eggs are really wondrous. Flax and Chia both have so many health benefits and they have the magical powers of creating the gooeiness and binding power of a real egg.
Along with this personal pizza, I included my belived tomato paste (so much better than tomato sauce) and hummus! You can choose any hummus flavor you want but I had a roasted red pepper one on hand and it was phenomenal on this pizza. It gave it extra protein power and extra spectacular flavor! I still need to to making my own homemade hummus. I have so many flavor ideas in my head, now I just need to put them into action!
You know what goes well with hummus. Not just well but great? VEGGIES! Why of course. So next on the wonderful list of ingredients for this pizza I added some sliced eggplant, mushrooms, and carrots. O the joy! All lightly roasted when the pizza cooks in the oven. Really this is just a pie and wonder and happiness. Well rounded with healthy carbs, fats, and protein! It is perfectly filling and satisfying along with a side salad for a great dinner.
Hummus Chicken Meatball Pizza
Ingredients: (serves 1, with left over meatballs)
For the Chicken Meatballs: (about 9 to 10 balls)
+ 1 lb Ground Chicken (Fat-Free and Clean!)
+ 2 TB Ground Flax Seed and 4 TB Water
+ 1 Tsp Dried Parsley
+ 1 Tsp Basil
+ 1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
+ 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
+ 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
+ 1/4 Tsp Cumin
For the Pizza: (for 1)
+ 2 Heaping TB of Tomato Paste
+ 2 Heaping TB of Hummus
+ 4 to 5 Sliced Eggplant Rounds
+ 1 Medium Sliced Carrot
+ 2 Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms
+ 3 t0 4 Chicken Meatballs (cut in quarters)
+ 1/2 Tsp Oregano
+ Sprinkle of Crushed Red Pepper
Directions:
+ For the Meatballs: In a small bowl, combine the flax seed and water. Let sit for 5 minutes until it gels. In a large bowl combine the ground chicken and spices along with the flax egg. Use you hands and mix everything together. Make sure it is all equally incorporated.
+ Preheat your oven to 350°F. Then lightly grease a baking pan and form about 9 to 10 balls (about 2 TB each) with the chicken mixture. Place them evenly on the pan and bake for 34 minutes.
+ To Assemble the Pizza: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then place your tortilla down, apply the tomato paste, hummus, eggplant, carrots, and mushrooms, oregano, and crushed red pepper in that order. Then cut your meatballs and place them on top of everything.
+ Bake your pizza for 15 to 16 minutes at 350°F. Remove and enjoy!
Ta Da! See, there was no need to worry! I feel pretty confident with ground chicken now. Next up I need to try making chicken burgers. I have mastered the veggie burger so this should be similar…right? Another cooking method that I want to try with either chicken or fish is poaching! I keep seeing all these delicious poached salmon recipes and I really want to try it. But I am just so scared it won’t cook right and I will die. Same thing with grilling. I said I have been craving grilled chicken, but still I don’t know how long it should cook. Like I am the girl who cooks her fish and chicken way over just because I am horrified of dieing from undercooked meats. But I don’t care, I like over cooked salmon 😉 I just have to keep trying new methods though. I know what properly cooked fish and chicken are supposed to look like, so…And meat thermometers, come on! They never work! Something could be 500 degrees and it would read 100. The only way to get an accurate reading is if you have a really think piece of meat. Or maybe I just need a better thermometer…
So tell me:
+ Have you ever worked with ground chicken?
+ How did you learn to cook with meats? I just know how to cook fish now from frozen fish packages and asking the butcher. For chicken I sought help form my mom. But I always find it comforting when baking or making pancakes and how I never have to worry about under cooked eggs 😉 The perks of being a semi-vegan, eh?
+ What is one food you are scared to cook with?
*Recipe linking up for the week! WIAW, Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Whole Food Fridays, #Foodie Friday, Real Food Recipe Roundup!*
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Joyce @ It's Your Life
This looks amazing I’ll have to try it, thanks for sharing once again on Real Food Fridays.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Joyce! 🙂
Julie Moore
I have never worked with ground chicken or humus! I just might have to think about it. I know my brother loves humus, and he’s pretty convincing about me needing to try it. I have a feeling I’ll cave one of these days! 😉 Thanks for sharing!
Strength and Sunshine
If you love chickpeas, you will love hummus! It is an essential! I am so surprised you’ve never had it! When I was younger I used to hate it, but over the years it is now one of my favorite foods!
Julie Moore
I’ve never had chickpeas. I’ve seen them a lot, just never tried them. I will put it on my list of things to try.
Honest Mum
Would never think of adding hummus to a pizza, really flavoursome collaboration! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Strength and Sunshine
It works so well! Any spread is great on pizza, no need for the traditional tomato sauce and cheese!
Kierston
Love it! Adding hummus to anything is amazing…usually 😉
Strength and Sunshine
Haha yes! It’s a pretty magical food. You can make it sweet or savory 😉
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I am so into those chicken meatballs, you have no idea!
Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha! I thought of you GiGi when I was making these!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
DID YOU REALLY!?! OMG I feel so special! 😉
Strength and Sunshine
Haha it seemed like something you would create!
sprint2thetable
I love this idea! I like ground chicken better than ground turkey – it’s more flavorful! It took me a loooong time to be able to touch raw chicken breasts. It still creeps me out.
Strength and Sunshine
God, same here! Sometimes I still put on plastic gloves before I start working with it! Haha!
Terri Henkels
A wonderful recipe! Stopping by fro Real Food Friday.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Terri!
Elena (@elenareviews)
It looks delicious and I like hummus, I eat hummus 2-3 times per week.
Strength and Sunshine
Me too, I have it practically everyday! haha!
Chantelle Hazelden (@MamaMummyMum)
What a fab alternative idea, I would never thought about using chicken for meatballs!! #TastyTuesdays
Strength and Sunshine
Cleaner and healthier and uses a protein I actually 😉
SuzLyfe
What a great recipe! I definitely need to change some things up in the kitchen–these meatballs might be just what the doctor ordered. I’m not too worried about cooking with anything–there are some things that I have better success with than others, but “scared”… I don’t think I’m afraid of things in the kitchen–maybe lazy, but not scared 😀
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks! Once you get the hang of cooking with meats then yes it is less scary and more exciting!
jessielovestorun
This whole recipe looks amazing. I think I’d be extremely happy just eating the meatballs by themself though Ha Ha!
Strength and Sunshine
Totally! Like a chicken meatball sub! I know I will totally be experimenting with new combos with these guys!