Punch up the flavor of a whole wheat naan pizza recipe with savory Marsala mushrooms, caramelized onions and fontina cheese for a simple vegetarian meal.

When you love to cook, there's nothing more rewarding than preparing a meal with friends who love to cook and eat as much as you do. And when those friends are a bunch of food bloggers, who are full to the brim with awesome recipe ideas and cooking tips (and a penchant for busting out the dance moves), making dinner quickly turns to "master class meets Uptown Funk".
Last month, I headed to Lake Tahoe to a retreat organized by my friend, Lori of Recipe Girl and had the opportunity to spend the weekend cooking and sharing ideas with a group of talented women. We talked, we ate, we shared ideas, we drank, we brainstormed and we ate again.
{Back row (left to right): Lori of Recipe Girl, Lauren of Climbing Grier Mountain, Sandy of Reluctant Entertainer Front row: Shawn of I Wash, You Dry, Andi of The Weary Chef, Megan of Country Cleaver, Cheryl of Tidy Mom, me, Elise of Simply Recipes, Dorothy of Crazy for Crust, Cathy of Noble Pig}
On the final night, we cooked up a memorable meal of beef tenderloin fillets, topped with caramelized onions and mushrooms, accompanied by baked potatoes, a beautiful pear and lettuce salad and plenty of Noble Pig wine (from Cathy of the blog, Noble Pig). I was in charge of preparing the mushrooms, and since fillets practically beg for a pile of Marsala-simmered mushrooms, that's what I made. When seasoned with thyme, salt and pepper, the mushrooms are good enough to play a starring role in any meal.

When I got home, I was craving another dose of Marsala mushrooms and caramelized onions, but wasn't in the mood for beef. Out came the whole wheat naan bread (these are the ones I use for quick meals), which is often my fall-back for easy pizzas. After preparing the Marsala mushrooms and caramelizing the onions (see How to: Caramelize Onions for step-by-step directions), I piled everything on top of the naan bread, along with some fontina and Parmesan cheeses.
Eight minutes later, they came out of the oven, golden brown and ready to eat!

This combination of toppings would be just as good on top of regular pizza dough, so feel free to swap out whole wheat or regular dough for the naan bread.
Other naan pizza recipes:

Thai Chicken Naan Pizza with Peanut Sauce, Red Pepper & Carrots
Chicken Pesto Artichoke Naan Pizza
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Marsala Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Naan Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoon olive oil divided
- 3 medium yellow onion cut into thin half-circles
- ¼ teaspoon + ⅛ teaspoon salt divided
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- Water
- 12 ounces crimini mushroom sliced
- ½ cup Marsala wine
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
- 2 whole wheat naan breads I use Stonefire whole grain naan
- ½ cup grated fontina cheese
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. If using a pizza stone, heat the stone in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Lay 2 pieces of naan on a pizza peel or on a baking sheet (if not using a pizza stone).
- Heat 3 teaspoons of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat.
- Add the onions, cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deep golden brown.
- During the cooking, add water as necessary, 2 tablespoons at a time, to stop the onions from burning and drying out. Be sure that all of the water is absorbed before removing from the heat.
- Season the onions with ⅛ teaspoon salt and the ground pepper. (For detailed pictures, see How to: Caramelize Onions). Transfer the onions to a bowl and set aside.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil in the skillet.
- Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, under the they are tender and starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in the Marsala wine, fresh thyme and remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt, and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the heat.
- Divide the fontina cheese evenly between the naan bread, then top with the caramelized onions, mushrooms and Parmesan cheese.
- Transfer to the topped naan bread to the pizza stone (or place the baking sheet in the oven) and bake until the cheese is melted and the naan bread is golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Transfer the pizzas to a cutting board and let rest for a few minutes before cutting.
- Sprinkle the parsley over top. Slice the pizzas into quarters. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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David Smart
i hate it when looking for a recipe and it champoons vegans and alienates itself from us who eat meat. , i just want to make something nice with mushrooms, , why can't it just be food and not typecast
Dara
Hi David, this recipe isn't labeled as vegan (it's piled with cheese, so definitely not vegan). Yes, it's vegetarian, but feel free to just call it a mushroom and onion pizza, or add meat to it as you wish. The word "vegetarian" is used to indicate to those who follow a vegetarian diet that this recipe fits within their restrictions. Not typecasting, just providing information.
Julia Stearns @ Healthirony
The colors are so vibrant and your photography is fantastic! Thx for this yummy pizza recipe.
Megan {Country Cleaver}
I need these mushrooms in my life!!! I'm so glad I have the recipe now! Also - MISS YOU!!
Michelle @ blackberrybabe
Love anything with caramelized onions. And that retreat sounds fab!
Justine | Cooking and Beer
Naan pizza?! Sign me up! P.S. Those are the most beautifully-photographyed mushrooms EVER!
Nutmeg Nanny
This pizza looks fantastic! I'm a huge mushroom lover (seriously, obsessed) so I would happily eat this with a side of extra mushrooms...haha.
Sara @ Bitz & Giggles
The retreat looks like it was SO much fun! These mushrooms look incredibly delicious! What a great flavor combo for a pizza!
tanya
I always forget to use naan for pizza, but the flavor is incredibly! I love the mushrooms and the onions, I bet the taste is out of this world.
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
great flavors and super simple, thanks Dara!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
Love the flavor of Marsala and homemade pizza is always good idea!!!! Looks fantastic!