Here are some of the basic ingredients you can look for to make pizza at home tonight.
The crust: In order to make a great pizza, you need a great crust. Long gone are the days of white crust. Spelt is the flour of choice for natural pure dough – that is actually authentically Italian. Spelt is also higher in protein and fiber and has a wonderful nutty flavour and texture. You will also digest it much easier than white flour. Note that spelt is not gluten free, if you are looking for a gluten free alternative I would suggest using brown rice flour or an all-purpose gluten free flour mix. See the recipe below for my favourite crust!
You can also purchase sprouted grain wraps or brown rice flour wraps for a quick crust that requires no work other than to top it!
The sauce: when it comes to sauce on pizza, they’re quite a few options beyond the classic tomato. However there is nothing wrong with using a good pure roma tomato sauce – either homemade or store bought. Just look for a clean label with no added salt, sugar or oils other than traditional ingredients like olive oil, spices, garlic, tomatoes and sea salt. That is all you need. Then there is pesto, roasted garlic and olive oil or even no sauce at all if that is what you choose – a white pizza!
The cheese: This is where things can get sticky, and when it is easy to either have too much or the wrong kind and be adding on the calories and fat when it’s not necessary.
Non-Dairy Cheeses: If you are dairy free, lactose intolerant or vegan, you may want to opt for store bought cheeses like Daiya – which is made from tapioca and coconut. It melts really well on pizza and provides that gooey texture that you may be looking for (while being soy and casein free). However my preference is to go natural and these are my favourite choices, soaked and crushed cashews, nutritional yeast or avocados which all give a creamy texture and flavour.
Toppings: Of course when it comes to toppings the sky is the limit. You can choose any veggies that you desire. Some even opt for fruit! Have some fun and choose ingredients likes mushrooms, onions, kale, arugula, peppers, olives, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, eggplant, basil, sweet potato or get a little exotic and try pineapple, pear, walnuts, figs. Make a few different pizza’s, so that you have a few different options!
Whatever you choose, it is sure to be delicious and more importantly homemade!
If you’d like to try a deliciously nutritious Raw Pizza join us for our Raw Italian Taster Cooking Class on Tuesday February 4th where you will create and enjoy…
Zesty Zucchini Pesto, Creamy Caesar Salad, Marinated Mushroom and Onions, Sundried Tomato and Cashew Pizza
Spelt Pizza Crust
Yield: 2-4 Servings
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Ready In: 35 mins
What is so nice about pizza is that it can be different each time you make it. I often use my Zesty Pesto Sauce instead of garlic and play around with different veggies from mushrooms, zucchini and broccoli. Make the pizza vegan and try a cashew crumble or Daiya cheese instead of goat cheese!
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup whole spelt flour
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch sea salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375
1. Line a round pan with parchment paper.
2, Mix flour, flax, and salt in large bowl and set aside. In a measuring cup, measure 1⁄2 cup water. Then add oil, honey, and salt and mix well.
3. Pour the wet mixture over the dry and toss with fork. Once it starts to come together, knead with your hands about 2 minutes. It should be a soft dough, but one that holds together.
4. Using firm pressure, press the dough with you knuckles of fingers evenly over the pizza pan. Let the dough extend a little onto the rim of the pan. Prick the surface with a fork and then bake for 10 minutes in oven.