breakfast/brunch/dinner/recipes/Vegetarian Recipes

Tomato and Egg Breakfast Pizza Recipe

Posted April 26, 2015 by Stephanie
tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com

tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com

tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com

tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com

tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com

While I was living in Japan, I ate my fill of Japanese foods: ramen, soba, udon, katsu, yakitori, curry, tempura, sushi, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, anything remotely Japanese, I was all over it. But sometimes, out of nowhere, a pizza craving would hit and the call for that piping hot crispy combination of savory tomato sauce and gooey cheese could not be ignored. I tried to sate the beast with these little pizza kits that I found at our neighborhood supermarket. They had dough, sauce and some shredded cheese packaged neat and tidy into individualized compartments, and then in a larger more elaborate package. I had high hopes, really, I did, but after baking up and inhaling the little guys, I had to admit to myself, they just didn’t hit the spot. I wanted a bubbly charred crisp crust, I wanted simple perfection, I wanted a Neapolitan style pizza.

Luckily, there’s actually a place in Tokyo that’s famous for Neapolitan style pizza. Located on the main drag of Nakameguro – Tokyo’s answer to Brooklyn – is Da Isa, an unassuming little pizza joint that happens to have a Naples award-winning pizza chef. There are constantly lines out the door so of course Mike and I decided to give it a go.

We went for lunch. Our lunch decision was two-fold: avoiding the long dinner lines and the massively discounted lunch pizzas. The menu was in Japanese (of course) and Italian. I can barely read Japanese, and since the Japanese menu was basically the Italian menu translated phonetically into Japanese, we looked at the Italian menu. Mike decided on a classic margherita and I went with the margherita alla cocca, which sounded good, but mysterious.

da isa - www.iamafoodblog.com da isa - www.iamafoodblog.com

Imagine my delight when my pizza came out, steaming hot from a short stint in a wood burning oven, the tomatoes glistening with a slick of extra virgin olive oil, the crust charred and bubbly, and in the middle, a lovely mess of glowing orange-yellow yolk surrounded by fluffy clouds of whites. It was an egg on a pizza, of course! Eggs on pizza are not novel to me and usually when I see one on the menu, it’s what I gravitate towards. I just love how the raw yolk mixes in with the sauce and cheese.

Speaking of raw yolks, everything that could go wrong with the pizza I made did: the eggs were over cooked, the bottom crust was soggy, my photos didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to. Overall, it turned out to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I asked Mike for a hug and he gave me one, of course, but also asked me why I cared so much. The correct answer should have been, I don’t. But, lately I’ve been spiraling in a hole of self-doubt. I feel like my photos aren’t good enough, my recipes are uninspired, my writing lacking. Sometimes I get into these moods and it takes me forever to get myself out.

Serious stuff for a Sunday, I know. So I’ll just leave you with this: we fixed the pizza. Mike suggested throwing it into a cast-iron pan to crisp up the bottom on the stove. It totally worked. The eggs didn’t magically revert back to their raw state, but the crispy-crunchy crust did make me feel just a little bit better.

Wishing you guys a happy, confident, sunny Sunday!
xoxo, love and potatoes,
steph

PS – There are still a couple of days to vote for your favorites in the Saveur Food Blog Awards! So many of my favorite blogs are up, make their day and give them a vote!

Tomato and Egg Breakfast Pizza Recipe
makes 1 pizza


  • 1 portion no-knead pizza dough or pizza dough of choice
  • oil
  • cornmeal, if desired
  • 2-3 tablespoons pizza sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2-3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 2 eggs
  • 1-2 tablespoons grated parmesan
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • red pepper flakes

Arrange a rack in middle of oven and preheat to its hottest setting, 500°–550°.

Lightly oil a baking sheet and dust lightly with cornmeal, if desired. Shape dough into a circle, pushing gently. Spread on the sauce and top with the shredded mozzarella. Top with the cherry tomatoes and eggs. Sprinkle on the parmesan and a generous amount salt and freshly ground pepper. Place in the oven to bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is puffy, crisp and slightly blistered. Enjoy immediately. If the bottom crust is slightly soggy, heat in a cast-iron pan over low-heat until crisp.

tomato and egg pizza - www.iamafoodblog.com
It’s Sunday! You know what that means: it’s time for Sunday Brunch. Why don’t you skip the line and make brunch at home this week? The coffee’s truly bottomless, the booze doesn’t have a crazy markup and you can chill out in your pajamas. Every Sunday I’ll post a brunch recipe. Soon you won’t be asking, where should we go for brunch – instead it’ll be, what should we make for brunch today?

44 Comments

  1. Ellie says:

    Your photos are fab! Your recipes look delicious and I love your writing. I know everyone has times of self-doubt but try not to let it get you down. Your food blog is everything I aspire for mine to be so please keep it up!

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      aww, thank you so much ellie!! it’s funny that you say that everyone has moments of self-doubt because i always think of else is confident :)

  2. mmmmm….. I do not have pizza often but when I do it has to be good! Your crust is burnished perfection!

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      thank you belinda! i LOVE making pizza. seriously rewarding :)

  3. Hey there! Nice to see a photo of you :)

    Can I join you in the self doubt hole? We won’t stay here long. It’s just temporary. I think we just have to tune out the things around us, focus on what’s within us, and then pick up and move on. Way easier said than done. For what it’s worth, your photos inspire the hell out of me, your recipes are always on-point, and I think you’re all-around fabulous. XO

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      oh gosh christina, you do NOT belong in the self doubt category. you’re AMAZING, what with your book (and your second book!) and your babe on the way to boot.
      thank you for the advice. you’re right, just gotta focus on me. xoxo

  4. Oof, what a beauty! This pizza looks like the BEST breakfast!

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      heehee i will ALWAYS love pizza for breakfast :)

  5. Manohman, have I been in that morass (quagmire? doldrums? cesspool? sucky-a** place?) right there with you—the last few weeks have been rough! At least for me, I know I’ve got it bad when the tiniest kind gesture from someone—even a stranger—makes me burst into tears of joy that the world has not forsaken me. Point being, YOU were one of those very, very kind folks that did something small over the past couple weeks to change my perspective. And I’m so incredibly grateful. I think, as humans, we’re all in it together—so the least we can do is take every opportunity to make it just a bit easier. So here I am, reminding you not just of your tremendous worth (obviobviobvi), but even more, your kind heart. Thanks for inspiring, always. And finally: IWANTTHISPIZZAKBYE.

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      oooh thank you so, so, so much lily!! really, you’re too kind. i’m so happy that i was able to cheer you up. you totally returned the favor! i wish i could send you a MILLION pizzas. and then eat them with you. xoxo

  6. I feel you on the self-doubt thing. I’ve been stressing about deadlines with blog stuff and I knew that this weekend would be crazy ass busy for me. Aaaand then UPS went and threw a giant wrench in my weekend and I spent this morning crying with frustration over this delivery b.s. But then I realize it’s all self-imposed stuff, you know? I put this pressure and stress on myself and I hold myself to this impossible standard, so of course I’m going to be frustrated when things don’t turn out exactly precisely the way I envisioned (except the UPS stuff, that’s all them). I have to give myself a break once in a while. When I say, “No, I HAVE to do this because of x reason”, I need to stop and think, “Do I really HAVE to? Or would I just like to? What’s going to happen if I don’t? Oh – the world isn’t going to come crashing down round me? Okay, then I don’t HAVE to.” But easier said than done…

    Anyways, long story short, I get you.

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      oh gosh, i should totally take a page from your book. it’s true, what do we really HAVE to do?! i’m so glad you get me megan! xoxo

  7. Steph, your hair is so pretty!

  8. Chrissy says:

    It must be going around- that nasty self-doubt bug. More than one friend has mentioned it in passing and more than on blogger has written it. Chin up because you’re doing an awesome job!

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      you’re absolutely right chrissy – it’s like some sort of virus!? hopefully i build up some immunity :) thank you so much for your sweetness!

  9. I FEEL YOU! But I absolutely love your photos. I think mine are garbage, but yours are incredible! And your recipes are insane, seriously, if your house was a restaurant I would be there erryday. This pizza? YES. But I know that the only thing that gets me out of a funk is finding that inspiration again – and I know you will. I just want you to know that you’re kicking ass right now even if you think you’re not!

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      thank you so much sarah!!! YOU inspire me!
      xoxoxo

  10. Trang says:

    I have that feeling sometimes: lacking ideas, lacking inspiration, lacking enthusiasm, lacking confidence while I want to write something, though I know there’re a million things going on in my mind. No worries, it’s temporary. This’s what I do: exercises, people watch and napping. Your blog is always one of my favorite blogs, so please don’t give up.

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      thank you for the sweet words trang :) naps always help!

  11. Kelsey M says:

    Yummy! You’re lucky you were in Tokyo- when I was living in Japan I was out in Gifu and there were no pizza places in sight! I think I remember seeing something that resembled pizza…but it had sweet mayo corn on top. I may have blocked it from my memory. This looks so much better!

    -Kelsey

  12. Trisha says:

    YUMMMMMMM. A pizza for breakfast is a dream. especially with eggs on top.

  13. Abby says:

    Your photos are ALWAYS fab, Stephanie, and these particular ones are stunning. Truly.
    And the pizza looks DELICIOUS, despite anything that may have gone wrong with it.
    I’m going to be in Tokyo for two days this week!! I’ll have to remember this pizza place… xoxo! <3 <3 <3

  14. Dulcistella says:

    If you want a perfect Neapolitan pizza, here you go:
    http://www.cookandthecity.it/2015/03/23/la-pizza-al-piatto-come-in-pizzeria/
    if you wish to have a translation, just let me know ;-)

  15. Neri Ann says:

    I finally see your photo! And I am drooling now at that pizza!

  16. i won’t lie, i sat here for about five minutes wondering where the scrambled eggs on the pizza were. and then i realized that you were going for a sunny side up/over easy egg prep. (it’s monday morning, i’m bleary eyed). i currently have two pizza doughs hanging out in the freezer and i do love me breakfast for dinner…

    PS. i’m about to complete a 2 month absence from my space, which has been cathartic. some might say to keep plugging away, to get back on the horse and just do it. others might say to take a step back, to regroup, to rejuvenate and to see if you give a hoot after awhile. the main thing is, what do you say?

  17. Alana says:

    So, just know that a million hugs were just sent your way. Also, when I’m in a slump or feel totally uninspired, I generally come this way to iama… for inspiration, so hop out of that hole right now lady!! And guess what, you’ve totally inspired me to make some pizza. P.s. Seriously, don’t forget about all those hugs floating around out there. xx

  18. Kari says:

    Breakfast pizza is the best kind of pizza! This is something everyone in my family would totally dig. Thanks for the great idea and recipe!

  19. Beau Ciolino says:

    Hey hey hey Stephanie! Ok real talk: I’ve been meaning to visit your blog foreverrrrrr. Like, actual months. I actually think I did stop by a few weeks ago for a fruity pebbles thing but I didn’t spend enough time because I’m in my last few weeks of school ever and life has been wayyyyy too hectic. Anyway, I’ve been stalking you (in a not terrifying way – more like in a sweet admiring way) forever on Instagram and love everything you post. So, ok, here I am, spending lots of time reading through a few of your posts! Anyway, the self doubt thing is actually super refreshing to hear because I’m kind of new to blogging and often feel that “errr maybe I shouldn’t be doing this” feeling. To know that someone as experienced as yourself feels that from time to time makes me feel a little less crazy. But also, you totally should not feel that. You are amazing. Anyway, this pizza looks incredible and your hair is on mother effing fleek and I think you’re doing a bomb ass job over here! So glad I finally get to say hi!

  20. I LOVE this pizza. I am an egg nut to start with. It’s hard to come up with something innovative for
    breakfast—albeit I love breakfast food a LOT. This is wonderful.

  21. Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen says:

    This pizza is just lovely <3 Runny egg yolks on everything, please!

    And that thing about self-doubt? Been there, still am. It's frustrating but probably an inevitable part of this creative work. Love you and your recipes, pics, and words. Xo!

  22. Chani says:

    I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to post. It sucks you’re in a bit of a rut right now, but I’d like to take a moment and vehemently disagree with you…I adore your pictures, adore your recipes. Even this post, especially this post. And what better writing can you get than honesty? I feel like this too, occasionally, and I try to remind myself that you can’t appreciate the better moments in life without something poor to compare them to. Take some time, go out to eat someplace new, go find some random gourmet market you’ve never been to before. Sometimes you have to give yourself a platform to let new ideas come to you. Take care of yourself. Best.

  23. Stardancer says:

    I always feel really bad when I screw up a recipe- partly because I spend so much time cooking and partly because then we don’t have anything to eat. My husband always gently reminds me that it’s okay, no one’s perfect all the time, and gives me a hug. And then I go make pasta.

  24. Chrissy says:

    Love your photos and the way you write. Beautiful blog- nicely done!

  25. Joan says:

    Never heard of breakfast pizza before. i’m still interested to try this recipe. I like pizza but this time I’m gonna try to make a breakfast pizza.

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