Grain Free Pizza Crust

It has been a few weeks since I went grain free.  I am feeling much better and not nearly as swollen. My energy levels throughout the day are more 'normal' than they were before...I guess before I felt/was tired all the time. I am going to be grain free until at least the end of May, so it was important that I find a substitute for the usual gluten free pizza crust we use.  This whole process has made me really think about the gluten free products I was buying and how they aren't really that good for me.  Yes, they are gluten free, but they still have ingredients (like rice flour) that can irritate some people's small intestines.

I have been trying out a few different grain free pizza crust recipes that I found online, but none were really very good.  I came across a recipe that used coconut flour (it was for a breakfast pizza) and decided to try it out with a few modifications.  I really, really like this pizza crust and know that I will be making it again. 

Grain Free Pizza Crust

Dry ingredients

*makes one 10" pizza crust

1/2 cup coconut flour
1 clove of garlic (chopped finely)
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 herb salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 eggs
1/2 cup coconut milk

Preheat oven to 425'C. Grease a piece of parchment paper with olive or almond oil.  In a medium bowl, combine the coconut flour, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, baking soda and parmesan cheese.  In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and the coconut milk.  Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until it resembles mashed potatoes.  Spread the mixture out into a circle using a knife or use another piece of parchment on top and roll it into the desired shape and thickness. 

Bake at 425'C for 15-20 minutes until lightly brown on top.  Top with your favourite pizza toppings and cook for 5-10 more minutes.

After baked

For the Love of Pizza

I think I crave or think about pizza at least 3 times a week.  In the past, I have asked my students what their favourite food is, and the reply is almost unanimously pizza of some kind.  What is it about pizza that we love so much?  Why is it the go-to food when we watch sports or for children's birthday parties?  It is very easy to pick up the phone, order pizza, and have it delivered straight to our house.  Someone out there made a brilliant business decision when they decided to make it easy for us to order pizza right to our doorstep.

Last night, I had my mom, brother, sister-in-law and their three boys over for supper.  I wanted to make something that was kid-friendly.  Pizza was the answer, but I did not want to have regular pizza.  I bought some Udi's gluten-free crusts and a variety of toppings (cheese, chicken, sausage, ham, pineapple, tomatoes and bacon). http://udisglutenfree.com/view_product/1017/PIZZA_CRUSTS/Pizza_Crusts_2_Pack

This would not be something we would eat everyday, but it was a great meal and was super easy to make (and less expensive than buying pre-made gluten-free pizzas that include toppings - these usually retail for $13-15).  Two Udi's crusts were $7.99 at Co-op and I found them in the frozen, specialty food section.


Here are the types of pizzas I made:

Ham, pineapple and bacon
Spolumbo's sausage and tomato
Cheese and basil
BBQ chicken and bacon

I used Saputo mozzarella and some marble cheese.  It only takes 10 minutes to cook the pizza once they are topped and the toppings can be anything that you like.  That is what I love about pizza; it is so versatile and -always delicious.  So the question is, when are you going to make gluten-free pizza for your family instead of doing what is easier and ordering it delivered right to your door?