Gluten-Free Pizza

By:  Maria

It is hard to resist a slice of pizza, especially if that pizza was made at home with an incredible yeast dough.  Unfortunately, for some, eating a slice of pizza will send them into severe GI disaster.  More and more people get diagnosed with some sort of disease/disorder/sensitivity related to gluten - and even more go undiagnosed!  With each exposure to gluten, the symptoms are not only persistent, they can wreak havoc within our gut lining, causing an immune response that, if untreated, can cause a plethora of autoimmune issues.

For someone newly diagnosed, the thought of avoiding gluten-containing foods seems overwhelming and daunting.  With a little research and a little help from those of us that have a nutrition background, the gluten-free journey can actually be quite simple.

There are tons of recipes out there that are gluten-free.  Be smart, however!  Simply because something says "gluten-free", doesn't mean it's a healthy gluten-free.  If you are purchasing a packaged gluten-free item, read the ingredients and avoid items that contain added sugar or ingredients you simply cannot pronounce!

This recipe can be adapted to individual tastes, by changing the toppings.  You can add ANY type of toppings - go wild!

Crust:

2 c almond meal

2 eggs

3 tblsp coconut oil (or olive oil)

1 tsp garlic powder

1.5 tblsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

In a mixing bowl, mix all ingredients until the dough comes apart from the sides of the bowl. Form the dough into a ball with your hands.

Lightly grease a baking sheet with some oil and, using your hands, spread the dough until the baking sheet is covered. Bake crust for 15-20 minutes. While crust is baking, prepare toppings.

Toppings:

1-2 cups marinara sauce (I like to make my own, since it's difficult to find a store-bought variety that does not contain sugar or other unnecessary ingredients)

1 lb turkey sausage

1-2 green peppers, sliced

1/2 c red onion, chopped

2 fresh tomatoes, chopped

On a heated skillet, brown the turkey sausage until completely done. Set aside.

Saute your green peppers and red onion for about 5 minutes, making sure they aren't too soft. Set aside.

After crust is done, spread marinara sauce over entire area.

Top with the turkey sausage...

...green pepper/onion mixture...

...and tomatoes. Bake for another 10-15 minutes...

Bon appetit!