Your dedication to healthier eating doesn’t mean you have to give up taste and variety when it comes time to your Friday night pizza tradition. Sure traditional pizza is made with wheat flour and topped with stringy delicious cheese – which are a no-go for your Paleo diet, but you just need to think outside the (cardboard) box.
By swapping traditional crust for Paleo-friendly ingredients and using vegan alternatives for cheese, you will open your eyes to a whole new world of pizza flavors that won’t leave you wishing for kill-your-diet cheat day.
PALEO-FRIENDLY CRUST RECIPES
Without out the use of grains you would think pizza crust would be impossible, but it’s not! Using creative ingredients will open a new world of tastes and textures that will fit in well with your idea of “the perfect pizza’.
Cauliflower crust. Who knew cauliflower could be so versatile. First we learn it can be used in place of potato or rice and now it has the reputation of being the perfect Paleo-friendly pizza crust. It’s pretty simple to make, too, by just using a blender, some steam, a cheese cloth and baking in the oven you’ll be left with a delicious start to pizza.
Beet crust. The first thing notice about this crust, when it’s cooked, is how incredibly gorgeous it looks. It takes on the red hue of beets when they’re baked together with quinoa flour and hazelnut meal and topped with your favorite vegetables.
Portobello mushroom. Often used as a meat alternative since this mushroom is so hearty, but it’s also the perfect base for pizza. Grill up the Portobello with some olive oil and heat then top with your favorite pizza combinations.
Almond flour. If you’ve been on the Paleo diet for a while, you’ll know that nuts are often used in place of grain and almond is a great alternative. They can be ground up to create the perfect flour to produce slightly sweet, but totally appetizing pizza crust.
PALEO-FRIENDLY CHEESE ALTERNATIVES
Before you go morning pizza as you know it since cheese isn’t Paleo-friendly, you’ll need to test out these three cheese alternatives that will singing “hallelujah”.
Vegan parmesan. By mixing together cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic and salt in a food processor you’ll be left with a crumbly ‘cheese’ that is the perfect texture for the top of your pie.
‘Moxarella’ cheese. It browns when it’s in the oven and stretches when you bite into it which means it’s perfect for pizza. Made with soaked cashews, tapioca starch and seasonings, this vegan and Paleo ‘cheese’ will give your pizza life.
PALEO-FRIENDLY TOPPINGS
If you’re looking to up your pizza game even more, you’ll want to try out each of these flavor combinations. They’re totally Paleo friendly and so good you won’t be tempted to order out.
- Prosciutto and peach
- Pulled pork and spinach
- Carrot and kale
- Sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts
- Ham and pineapple
- Smoked salmon and vegan parmesan
- Zucchini, white onion, Kalamata olives and basil pesto
- Mushroom, tomatoes and green pepper
- Purple cabbage, shaved carrots, chopped peanuts and cilantro
- Bacon, sausage and eggs
TapGenes Takeaway: Just because you’ve adopted the Paleo diet doesn’t mean you have to stop your Friday night pizza tradition! Here’s everything you need to make delicious paleo-friendly pizza!
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