Keto courgette pizzas with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes

Keto courgette pizzas with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes: a light oven recipe with courgettes, passata, mozzarella, oregano and fresh basil.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 10 min
• Cooking time: 15 min
• Total time: 25 min
• Calories: 290 kcal per serving
• Protein: 16 g
• Fat: 18 g
• Carbs: 10 g

Ingredients

• 2 courgettes
• 150g cherry tomatoes
• 3 tbsp passata
• 125g mozzarella
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt
• Fresh basil
• 1 tsp oregano

Method

You’ll need: oven · baking tray · chopping board · knife

1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C (200 °C fan) and wash the courgettes. Cut them into thickish rounds and lay them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
2. Brush the courgette slices with olive oil and salt lightly. This gives them more flavour in the oven.
3. Stir the passata with the oregano and a little salt. Spread the tomato sauce over the courgette slices.
4. Cut the cherry tomatoes and tear the mozzarella into small pieces. Scatter both over the courgette slices.
5. Bake at 220 °C for 12–15 min, until the mozzarella has melted and has a few golden spots. The cherry tomatoes should soften but still hold their shape.
6. Serve with fresh basil. The courgette pizzas taste best warm.

Good to know

When you fancy something savoury, these little courgette pizzas are just right. Juicy, full of flavour and quick to get on the table.

Swaps

Courgette → aubergine (a little more fibre, keto-friendly) Mozzarella → soft goat's cheese or a little burrata (less processed) Olive oil → avocado oil (heat-stable, mainly monounsaturated fatty acids) Cherry tomatoes → strips of pepper (more vitamin C, a crunchy alternative)

Allergens

The recipe contains milk (mozzarella). Usually well suited to children, though lactose sensitivity varies from person to person; in pregnancy, use mozzarella made from pasteurised milk.

Frequently asked questions

Does mozzarella contain lactose?

Yes, though usually less than many other fresh dairy products. How much is fine varies from person to person – it's still a dairy product and can cause discomfort for sensitive people.

What's in courgettes, nutritionally?

Courgettes contain a lot of water, some fibre and small amounts of potassium, vitamin C and folate. They're mild in flavour.

What's in tomatoes?

Tomatoes provide vitamin C, potassium and carotenoids such as lycopene. The content can vary considerably with variety and ripeness.

Is olive oil a sensible fat for this recipe?

Yes – olive oil mainly provides monounsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid, plus small amounts of vitamin E and polyphenols. The exact amount of these plant compounds depends a lot on quality and processing.

Can tomatoes or oregano upset a sensitive stomach?

Some people don't get on as well with tomatoes, because of their natural acidity, or with herbs such as oregano. This mainly applies to people with a sensitive stomach or reflux.