• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grumpy's Honeybunch
  • Grumpy's Honeybunch Recipes
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Low Carb Keto Recipes
  • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Videos
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Meal Plans
    • Shop
    • Contact
    • Videos
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Family Recipes

    Heirloom Tomato Pizza with Pesto Sauce

    Published: Sep 1, 2019 Last updated: Sep 21, 2021 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sharing is caring!

    8 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Garden fresh heirloom tomatoes and homemade pesto garnish the top of this delicious pizza. Paired with a glass of CK Mondavi Sunset Sweet Red, it is a perfect goodbye to summer and welcoming to fall!
    Heirloom Tomato Pizza

    This Heirloom Tomato Pizza Recipe with Homemade Basil Pesto Sauce paired with CK Mondavi and Family Sunset Sweet Red is a delicious way to end summer and greet fall. This recipe is sponsored by CK Mondavi and Family. All opinions are my own.

    Heirloom Tomato Pizza with Pesto is a delicious way to enjoy your summer produce and relax with your family and friends after along week! The pizza dough is covered with a Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe and is decorated with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese.

    Similar to a Margherita Pizza, this heirloom tomato pizza recipe adds an extra special layer of flavor by spreading a basil pesto over the dough. This pizza recipe has the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and creamy. And, it also goes great with a glass of CK Mondavi and Family's newest wine, Sunset Sweet Red!

    Heirloom Tomato Pizza with Homemade Basil Pesto

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links.

    A garden full of Heirloom Tomatoes

    I love Heirloom Tomatoes. So, it made perfect sense to make this Heirloom Tomato Pizza recipe! I think that while they may be an imperfect, ugly tomato, that is what also makes them beautiful! Heirloom Tomatoes can come in different colors and sizes. However, my favorites are the bright red or yellow tomatoes that grow huge in the garden! !

    Tomatoes have been so plentiful this year. As a result, we decided to try several different recipes to use them in! Today's recipe in particular was created to celebrate the ending of summer and beginning of fall. And, it is paired perfectly with CK Mondavi and Family Sunset Sweet Red Wine!

    Balancing out the flavor profiles and pairing CK Mondavi and Family Sunset Sweet Red

    Most of the time, I prefer a dry wine over a sweeter one. However, CK Mondavi and Family sent me their newest wine to try which is on the sweeter side. I wasn't sure what I would think of it as dry wines tend to be my preference. However, the Sunset Sweet Red is full-bodied, luscious, and smooth. It turned out to be very pleasing to the palate and I really enjoyed sipping on it!

    When pairing wine with food, it is a good idea to use a pairing guide. Especially if you are newer to the wine lover's group! CK Mondavi and Family has it all sorted out for you. Just check the varietal and see the photo of what food pairs well with it!

    Heirloom Tomato Pizza with Homemade Pesto Sauce

    Bringing together the flavors of summer and fall with Heirloom Tomato Pizza

    I completely enjoy having my youngest son living so close to home. We make eating together a family event that we all enjoy. Special memories are being made with food and wine and great conversation. Today's recipe was made with the thoughts of summer's end produce being paired with a warmer and sweeter wine that makes you think of the changing of seasons.

    We used ripe, gorgeous heirloom tomatoes from our garden to pair with a homemade basil pesto recipe on top of a homemade pizza dough. The entire process was a family affair with my son making the pizza dough and pesto for me so I could document our process.

    Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe

    Tips for a successful recipe

    When making a pizza you want to be sure to take certain steps to ensure a delicious crust and topping. Below are some ways we ensure our heirloom tomato pizza with pesto sauce is at its absolute best!

    • Slice your tomatoes before assembling the pizza and lie them out on paper towels. This will help absorb excess water and prevent your pizza from becoming soggy.
    • Use a pizza stone and pizza peel to cook your pizza. The stone should be hot when the pizza is placed on it. This helps to start cooking the bottom of your dough first and will give you a crisper pizza crust to hold all the toppings.
    • The pizza can be cooked in the oven or on a hot grill. Just be sure your temperature is set to 450 degrees. If your making the pizza in the oven, be sure it is set on the lowest rack.
    • Use fresh mozzarella on this pizza. Break it into smaller pieces and just dot the pizza with it. Don't use too much cheese for this particular recipe. You don't need it as this pizza is full of flavors and the cheese would just make the pizza heavier and cover up the flavor.
    A slice of Heirloom Tomato Pizza with Homemade Basil Pesto on a white plate

    How to make Heirloom Tomato Pizza

    Start with a good pizza dough. You can make your own (see this recipe for pizza dough) or buy a pre-made dough from the store. If making your own dough, you will want to plan ahead. A great dough will need to proof a couple of days to develop its flavor and it will stretch easier.

    my son stretching the homemade pizza dough recipe

    Once you have your dough down, you will need to either make your own homemade basil pesto recipe, or buy a pesto from the store. Either will be fine, but I'm a homemade girl all the way and we like to make our own!

    The pesto should go on the pizza dough before baking. Just spread a thin layer of it over the dough until it reaches the outer edges of the pizza crust.

    The next layer should be your tomatoes. Because heirloom tomatoes can be so large (the red one in the photo above weighed almost 2-½ pounds!), you may need to cut the slices in half.

    Dot the pizza with fresh mozzarella. We like to buy the Ciliegine Mozzarella and break it in half. Then, just to add a little more cheese, we will sprinkle a little bit of shredded cheese on top.

    This pizza recipe can be cooked on your grill or in your oven. The temperature should be hot (450 degrees) and the pizza stone should be in the oven or on the grill while it is preheating.

    Other Recipes that pair with CK Mondavi and Family Wines

    Fellow CK Mondavi and Family Ambassadors have created must try delicious wine pairings!

    Casa De Crews has this delicious, low carb, whole 30 recipe for Habanero Grilled Pork Chops that are mouthwatering! The blend of spice in the recipe and smooth sweetness are a perfect combination!

    Food Wine Sunshine has a Grilled Blackened Shrimp with Spicy Watermelon Salad that pairs deliciously with either Moscato or Sunswet Sweet Red!

    Other Pizza Recipes to pair with wine

    We are a pizza loving family. We also are a family with different dietary needs. And, while this Heirloom Tomato pizza is pictured with a regular homemade pizza dough, we also will make a low carb pizza crust recipe for those on keto. Any of our pizzas can be made with either crust!

    Pizzas Recipes to pair with Sunset Sweet Red Wine

    This Cheeseburger Pizza is an unexpected favorite in our home. Who knew ketchup would work on a pizza dough? The combination of sweet and tangy cheeseburger flavors pair deliciously with the smooth red wine.

    Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe
    Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe

    Have a glass with this Pesto Steak and Arugula Pizza or hearty Steak and Potato Pizza! It is another delicious pizza recipe that can bring together summer and fall flavors.

    Pesto Steak and Arugula Pizza
    Pesto Steak and Arugula Pizza Recipe

    Pizza Recipes to pair with Moscato Wine

    Buffalo Chicken Pizza is an absolute favorite here. The balance of spicy and sweet works deliciously together!

    Buffalo Chicken Pizza Recipe

    If your into grilling your veggies and enjoying them on pizza, then try this Grilled Vegetable Pizza with a glass of Moscato. The charred veggies and sweet wine complement each other in a way you may not expect!

    Grilled Vegetable Pizza
    Grilled Vegetable Pizza Recipe

    While this Grilled Chicken Artichoke Mushroom Pizza was originally paired with Chardonnay, it also goes great with Moscato wine. Add just a little bit of hot pepper to the recipe and there is a sweet heat complement that you may not expect!

    Grilled Chicken Artichoke Pizza Recipe
    Grilled Chicken Artichoke Mushroom Pizza

    *If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating!*

    Heirloom Tomato Pizza

    Heirloom Tomato Pizza with Pesto Sauce

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    Garden fresh heirloom tomatoes and homemade pesto garnish the top of this delicious pizza. Paired with a glass of CK Mondavi Sunset Sweet Red, it is a perfect goodbye to summer and welcoming to fall!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Family Recipes
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 2 pizzas
    Calories 412 kcal

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    • [1 pizza dough recipe]
    • [¾ cup homemade basil pesto]
    • 2 heirloom tomatoes
    • 1 cup cigiline mozzarella fresh small mozzarella balls, torn in half
    • ½ cup shredded part skim mozzarella

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven or grill to 450 degrees F.
    • Stretch and shape pizza dough to desired size.
    • Evenly spread homemade basil pesto over top of dough.
    • Arrange heirloom tomato slices over top of pesto layer.
    • Dot pizza with cigiline mozzarella
    • Sprinkle top of pizza with shredded mozzarella cheese.
    • Slide pizza over top of pizza stone in oven or grill using a pizza peel.
    • Bake for 20-30 minutes, until cheese has melted and crust has browned on bottom.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2slicesCalories: 412kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 16gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 455mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2g
    Keyword Heirloom Tomato Pizza, Pesto Pizza, Pizza Recipe
    Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

    More Family Recipes

    • Chile Rellenos with Salsa Roja
    • Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
    • Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
    • Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina Thomas

      September 02, 2019 at 11:46 pm

      I must make this pizza soon! I love the mix of pesto and heirloom tomatoes. So much flavor! And of course pizza and CK Mondavi wine is the perfect combo! Cheers!

      Reply

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome! I'm Shelby Law Ruttan, author and content creator at Grumpy's Honeybunch. She is self taught in the kitchen and has been sharing keto low carb recipes and family recipes since 2007.

    More about me →

    Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
    Southern Sweet Potato Pie

    Trending Recipes

    • Keto Chicken Nuggets with Canned Chicken
    • Baked Red Snapper Recipe with Garlic Topping
    • Air Fryer Roast Beef with Herb Crust
    • Hot Fireball Apple Cider Toddy
    • Crockpot Venison Stew - Warm and Hearty
    • Mom's Rhubarb Sauce

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Privacy Policy

    Terms and Conditions of Use

    Accessibility Statement

    As Featured In:

    Contact Shelby

    Contact

    Work with me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme

    8 shares