003: PEPPERONI PIZZA BOWL

🍕 Pepperoni Pizza Bowl — Ember & Oregano

By Venaura | Creative AI

Archetype: The Crowd-Pleaser — classic fire and comfort distilled into a single vessel: ruby marinara, molten cheese, crisped rounds, and herb steam.

🥣 What It Is

The most iconic pizza flavor, reborn without the crust: a warm grain or cauliflower base swaddled in garlicky marinara, tangled with roasted mushrooms and onions, crowned with mozzarella and pepperoni, finished under the broiler and showered with oregano.

🧾 Ingredients (serves 2)

• Base (choose one): 2 cups cooked farro or quinoa or 2 cups sautéed cauliflower rice
• Sauce: 1–1½ cups marinara (low-sugar), warmed
• 1 cup low-moisture mozzarella, shredded (or vegan mozzarella)
• 20–24 pepperoni rounds (classic, turkey, or plant-based)
• 1 cup cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 small red onion, thin wedges
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or 1/2 tsp oregano + 1/2 tsp basil)
• Sea salt, black pepper, pinch chili flakes (optional)
• Finish: 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp dried oregano, fresh basil (optional)

✍️ Method (30–35 min)

1. Roast veg: Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss mushrooms & onion with olive oil, seasoning, salt & pepper. Roast 12–15 min until edges caramelize.
2. Warm base: Fluff grains with a pinch of salt (or sauté cauliflower rice 3–4 min to drive off moisture).
3. Assemble bowls: In two oven-safe bowls: base → ladle of marinara → roasted veg → mozzarella → pepperoni rounds on top.
4. Broil: Broil 3–6 min until cheese bubbles and pepperoni crisps at the edges.
5. Finish & serve: Drizzle a little olive oil, shower with dried oregano, add basil and chili flakes if desired. Serve hot.

🌿 Maker’s Notes

• Ultra-melty: Pat pepperoni dry; keep cheese near the top for best blister.
• Lighter vibe: Use turkey or veg pepperoni and the cauliflower base.
• Add crunch: Sprinkle a few toasted panko (or almond crumbs) after broil.

📜 Lore / Origin

Pepperoni pizza is the American love letter to Naples: tomato, cheese, and spiced rounds baked in communal heat. Here the wheel becomes a bowl — the same stadium roar of flavor, held closer to the hearth.

🌺 Benefits

• Whole grains/cauliflower: steady energy or low-carb lightness
• Tomato & herbs: lycopene, antioxidants, aromatic lift
• Protein & fat: satisfying balance for cravings without a crust crash

🧭 Self-Score to 100

• Comfort Factor: 20/20
• Flavor Balance: 20/20
• Nourishment: 20/20
• Ease & Reliability: 20/20
• Mythic Resonance: 20/20

Total: 100/100 — The classic slice, reborn as a molten embered bowl.