Before I share this week’s menu plan, I want to share my favorite recipes for homemade gluten free pizza – including ideas for dairy free toppings and tomato free pizza sauce! π
Gluten Free 101: PIZZA!
If you are newly gluten free, you may be thinking that a really good pizza is now lost to you forever – especially if you’ve read any of those articles.Β Ya know, the articles that appear in national publications and always start off by implying that the poor, unfortunate gluten free person will never again enjoy pizza or beer.Β Puh-leez…those types of articles drive me absolutely nuts! π‘
Granted, gluten free pizza may not always be as easy as picking up the telephone but there are some mighty fine gluten free pizzas to be had my friends (note: if you live in the Albuquerque area, Pizza 9 does offer gluten free pizza delivery service – just be careful, cross contamination is always a concern).
There are plenty of gluten free frozen pizzas, pizza doughs and pizza crusts on the market (I really liked Udi’s gluten free pizza crusts before I went grain free and my youngest son was diagnosed with an egg allergy – and they make for easy Gluten Free Pizza Lunchables), but why spend a lot of money on store-bought pizza crust when you can make your own?
All you need for a great pizza is a really good crust!
My favorite gluten free pizza crust recipe belongs to Carol FensterΒ (see photo below), even my non-GF parents like this crust…in fact, my dad thinks it’s better than the gluten-filled variety!
Carol’s Gluten Free Pizza Crust (note: this recipe is already egg-free and to make this crust dairy-free for my brood, I use 2 Tbs. of almond flour in place of the powdered milk – a recommendation by Carol, in her book Cooking Free.Β Also, I use Superfine Brown Rice Flour and Guar Gum in place of the Xanthan Gum).
Heidi’s tip for this pizza crust: bake the crust in the oven for about 7 – 10 minutes BEFORE adding the sauce and toppings (then place back in the oven and bake just long enough until cheese is melted, about 5 – 10 mintutes longer)
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free Pizza Crust
Grain-Free Pizza Crust:
Now that I’m grain-free, I use my friend Elana’s recipe for pizza crust which can be found in her book, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook and you can check out a video tutorial over at Elana’s Pantry.
Delicious Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipes:
Again, why pay a lot of money for pizza sauce when you can easily make your own?Β I really like the following two recipes for homemade pizza sauce:
Exquisite Pizza SauceΒ this recipe calls for Parmesan cheese, but you can just omit that if you are dairy free.
Easy Pizza Sauce (this recipe is naturally dairy free)
Note for those with corn allergies: Processed tomatoes usually contain citric acid which is often derived from corn.Β I use Pomi brand tomatoes which contain nothing other than tomatoes (no citric acid) and I also like that they come in BPA-free aseptic cartons!Β Bionaturae Tomato Paste is packaged in a glass jar (BPA-free) and also contains nothing other than tomato paste.
Allergic to Nightshades?
Try making some Tomato-Free Marinara Sauce (believe it or not, this is really good, LOL!)
Dairy Free Pizza
I’ve only been dairy free for just under a year and my palette is not yet accepting of most dairy free “cheezes.”Β My kiddos however, really like Daiya Vegan Shreds and I can imagine that in another year or two (or five), I will like it too – I’m just not there yet. π
I had a really difficult time visually adjusting to pizza without cheese – it just didn’t look right to me – so I went without pizza altogether until a light bulb went off one day.Β I was watching a commercial for bread sticks by some national pizza chain and I thought, why not do a spin on the bread sticks by making gluten free focaccia and pressing the pizza toppings into the unbaked dough…then dip the focaccia in pizza sauce?Β YES!! π
I made the above focaccia for my husband using Carol Fenster’s Gluten Free Pizza Dough recipe.Β For the pepperoni, I buy a thick chunk of Applegate Farms Gluten and Casein-Free Pepperoni from the deli case at Whole Foods so I can cut it into a thick dice.
I also topped the focaccia with red onion slices, fresh rosemary, extra virgin olive oil, kosher sea salt and Peloponnese Whole Roasted Florina Sweet Peppers (note for those with corn allergies: this brand does not contain any citric acid, just: Roasted Whole Florina Peppers, Water, Red Wine Vinegar, Sea Salt, and Concentrated Grape Juice.
More Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pizza Recipes from My Fellow Bloggers:
Gluten Free, Dairy Free Mexican Pizza from Cook IT Allergy Free
Almost Grain Free, Gluten Free and Dairy Free Pizza Muffins from Gluten Free Easily
Spinach and Artichoke Dip Pizza from The W.H.O.L.E. Gang (note: if you can’t have dairy or soy, try using Cashew Cream Cheese and Cashew Sour Cream)
Mexican Pizza: Gluten Free and Dairy Free from The W.H.O.L.E. Gang
Gluten Free Pizza Flatbread from Gluten Free Goddess
This gluten free pizza post is linked to The GFE Virtual Gluten Free Support Group, be sure to click the link for more gluten free pizza recipes as well as a host of other helpful gluten free lifestyle information.
Menu Plan – Week of December 5, 2011
Monday: Allergy Friendly Savory Baked Apples and Jalapeno-Lime Kale Slaw
Tuesday: Tony’s Two-Ingredient Salsa Chicken, Roasted Broccoli and Fruit Salad
Wednesday: Simply Dressed Meatballs and Salad
Thursday: Paleo Casserole and Fried Apples
Friday: Homemade Pizza (see above) and Salad
Saturday: Rouladen (I’ve never had this before, but my friend Michelle encouraged me to try her recipe for this German dish after I shared my family’s recipe for Fritters last week – to accommodate my corn allergy, I will use my homemade Worcestershire Sauce and Bubbies Dill Pickles), Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Green Beans
Sunday: Leftovers
Do you have a favorite Gluten Free Pizza Crust Recipe (or perhaps some favorite dairy-free pizza toppings)?Β
If so, please consider sharing below in the comment section – I’d love to build a HUGE gluten free pizza resource so I can link to it every time I read an article on the gluten free diet that states pizza is banished forever! π
This was the meal I searched and searched for. We spent months eating "bad" gluten free pizza that I had made….too gummy, too cardboard….you get the idea. I like the recipe at No Gluten No Problem, from the ratio rally. I've both grilled this and finished it in the oven. Either way it's a winner. My family loves it! Now that we are exploring dairy free….Daiya is what we have used so far. I'd love any more cheese ideas people have!
http://noglutennoproblem.blogspot.com/2011/10/glu…
Oh, I can't wait until grains and dairy are back on the menu so I can try this. The liver detox diet I am on currently doesn't include either of those (not even nut flours). How I miss anything bread-like, not to mention cheese. I look with longing at ads for pizza now that I can't have any…
I am still in search of that illusive wonderful gluten free pizza recipe. I had tried one that I really liked but am having a hard time making it taste good again π I used to make Carol Fenster's for a while. But I found like I like to par bake the crusts, freeze them and have them quick on hand and they just didn't seem to hold up to my standards. For a while my go to pizza crust was Natalie's over at Gluten Free Mommy. It is a very good crust but it has a lot of ingredients. It calls for dairy and the replacement for it is almond flour (a no no in the family) so I use So Delicious Coconut yogurt. Something I don't always have on hand. The crust freezes well though. It seems to be the favorite of the boys. I am FAR pickier when it comes to pizza. I like a chewy crust, not thin and crispy. I also am not quite ready for the dairy free cheese but really like your idea Heidi. I may be trying that in the future.
The Rouladen is good! A lot of work but good. Typically we make about 40 pounds of this just before Christmas. Quite a site π My page is blocked. So here it is. It is an old family recipe that I surely will get in trouble for sharing π But hey I am amongst friends.
6 to 8 lbs thin “Top of Round” or “Round Steak” cut as thin as
possible – I usually can get it from 1/8” to 3/16” thick.
2 packages of thin (regular) bacon
Dry mustard – Preferably McCormicks fine ground.
Salt and pepper
2 finely chopped onions 2 cups or more
Celery finely chopped 2 cups or more
Dill pickle – medium chopped 2 cups or more
Parsley (fresh) – medium chopped 2 cups or more
Toothpicks – “Round Wooden”
Lemon juice – 2 tablespoon
Worchester sauce – 2 teaspoon Good for one Crock-pot
1 3/4-cups water (or broth)
Butter for browning
Water and flour (for gravy) – (Potato water works best)
Crock pot (s)
1. Take slices of meat and use a meat tenderizer (hammer) and beat it. Than salt, pepper & dry mustard each side of meat “LIGHTLY”. Rub in with FORK
2. Spread dill pickle, onion, celery, and parsley on each piece.
3. Lay one or two strips of bacon on top.
4. Roll up tightly and secure with toothpicks (or butcher string). – Some stuffing will fall out.
5. Brown in frying pan all sides with butter (or non dairy replacment)
6. Take drippings from frying pan and put in crock-pot. Pre warm crock-pot with water, lemon juice and Worchester sauce.
After Rouladen is browned put into crock pot(s) on low. Cook for at least six hours, (I like eight hours).
After 3 hours rotate. Remove the top have of the Rouladen and put into one bowl. Put the bottom half in another bowl. Put the top Rouladen in first (they will now be on the bottom and the bottom will be the top. Separate and refrigerate the Rouladen and the liquid overnight. Remove all the liquid (with pieces) and put in a separate bowl.
After refrigerating, remove ½ the fat from the liquid and discard. Add liquid back into the crock-pot and heat for the remaining 2 – 3 hours (until thoroughly heated) on LOW.
Remove Rouladen to serving dish and pour remains into a saucepan. Make gravy with potato water and flour mixture.
Good Luck – It is a messy job!
OMG Heidi, so aweome! Last weekend I spent probably 1 1/2 hours and 3 pizza crust attempts later to make an "ok" pizza crust for my son. I am definitely going to try this one that hits the jackpot!!! Thanks again! Tracy
I adjusted to Daiya much quicker I guess. It is NOT the same but boy, am I thrilled to have something gooey! We buy the cheddar and mozz in 5 lb shreds to make pizza, sandwiches, mac and cheese, you name it! I am still working on the best pizza crust too.I am getting a Vitamix for Christmas and am hoping that this helps with the dough. I have not tried my bread machine but may do that too. I just want fast-and when I use the Chebe (no rising needed) I am still getting a gummy crust. So, next time I will have to make sure it is kneaded more i guess….
I love refried beans and taco meat and squash or a BBQ chicken pizza with BBQ sauce and BBQ chicken. YUM!
Thanks for the wonderful picture and prompting to make a pizza. We have tried numerous recipes, and making one with ground buckwheat groats, was surprisingly yummy. The recipe came from WHole Nutrition. THe kids shared it tasted the most like frozen pizzas they had loved in the past, some may think that is not a postiive, yet, I belive they were saying, it tasted most like pizza they remembered . Anyways, we like lots of carmalized onins on the pizza as well. We too struggle with cheese. A few in my family will eat Daiya, and others would rather just not eat if it is Daiya. So thank you, Daiya for giving it a try!
I wonder how many homes will try pizza tonight, thanks to your post.
Love the bread stick idea, everyone in my home, would like that.
Thanks again for all the details. Love is in the details.
Thank you — pizza is something I'm still working on and this gives a lot of ideas! I can't wait to surprise my family sometime… π
this pizza is better than the local pizza shops…period
Dad,
Thanks for sharing your opinion of the pizza crust – I am determined to find all the most awesome gluten free recipes out there…so you will just WANT to be gluten free because the food simply tastes better (and I will rest easier knowing you may never actually develop full-blown celiac like your daughters). See how this works? π
Love ya,
Heidi
THANK YOU! For two years I have been searching high and low for a good crust. Carol is one my heroes! Why did I not think to look up one of hers. Thanks for this great post. xoLexie
LOVE this post on so many levels! Those articles should not be allowed to be written … they are so last year (or 5 or 10, taking a page from your dairy-free "cheese" comment)! All these ideas are fantastic, Heidi! Thanks, too, for the link love … I need to make those pizza muffins again. π Now that's a much more pleasurable way to use vegan cheese. π
xoxo,
Shirley
This crust looks awesome and I will definitely try it soon (end of pregnancy so baking is a hit and miss – heck, dinner is hit and miss some days!). I have yet to find a recipe I truly "love" that takes me away from convenience crusts. My favorite ready to go crust comes from a bakery in CA – Venice Bakery. It is gluten/dairy/soy/egg-free. You can buy in bulk and it's sealed for pantry storage – runs about $7.50 for a 10-inch pizza. I do use a pizazz to cook it so maybe that makes a difference (vs. the oven)?
I personally love Daiya. I do find I have to go light on the amount used or it's too strong. No other cheese that's both DF/SF have compared. I'd rather go without or have a "weird" kind of pizza – you know, without cheese and strange toppings. But when I'm in the mood for a regular old-fashioned, "real" kind of pizza, I use Daiya.
Also, would you freeze this crust?
You are too cute. I've never heard of "visual" issues with no cheese π You just need to pile on more toppings!!
That crust recipe is actually in Go Dairy Free as a GF pizza crust option (Carol shared it with me). We made it a few nights ago and loved it! I'm probably going to make it again this week. Ours was cheeseless, with the sauce π
Just wanted to check back and say THANK you, we grilled the dough, and it was amazing! Made two of the pizzas. Love to see the smiles on my kids faces.
THanks again!
You are one amazing chica! Such an awesome post and great ideas! And thank you so much for your generous link love! xoxox
My family and I (who can eat gluten) LOVE LOVE LOVE Silvana's Nardone's Pizza Crust Recipe in her book Cooking for Isaiah. My husband whose job was to make pizza's in high school thinks this is the best crust hands down he has ever eaten. You can get 4 personal pan size pizza's from on batch. I then par bake them for 8 minutes, let them cook and put them in the freezer. That way when I need a frozen pizza for lunch just throw the toppings on and into the over for 10 minutes.
Caramelized onions make a delicious focaccia.topping.
I forgot to add my favorite dairy free topping. Mash up 1/2 an avocado with a little hot sauce. Use that as the "sauce" top with cooked chicken, crumbled bacon and diced tomato. Almost like a BLT without the lettuce.
Is there a way to make this yeast free? Maybe some sparkling water. My son is allergic to baker's yeast, oh come on now! Thanks, Tracy
I've started making my pizzas 'chicago style' in the sense that I put the cheese on the bottom, then sauce, then toppings. The last pizza I made was SO GOOD because I spread Tofutti cream cheese (or maybe it was sour cream) and then a layer of Daiya, then sauce, etc. My mo uth is watering just thinking about it!thanks for the other ideas, will have to try some next time I crave pizza.
I like Follow Your Heart vegan nacho cheese for mexican dishes and even cheesy chips. One advantage it has over regular cheese is that it stays melted when it cools down.
I love, love, love the idea of making focaccia and dipping it into the sauce. I've missed pizza. I bought some vegan cheese but haven't worked up the nerve to try it. (Former cheese lover – gluten, dairy, and soy-free.)
Pizza without cheese is easy–just spread hummus over the marinara sauce and top as usual. Tastes exactly like the real thing!
What a great idea Victoria! π
With your children having so many algeries did you ever come across anyone that is diabetic and has celiac?
My 2 and 1/2 year old granddaughter has both and it is very hard to find recipes that are low in carb (which gluten-free things have) and suger-free at the same time.
I NEED HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,Tookie
Also it can make people more confused and also stop pain messages.
So, try to get involved with the habit of smoking of always transporting certain gluten-free snacks around along with
you anywhere you go, and departing them within the vehicle,
or perhaps in your bag, as well as at the desk at the office, to ensure that if you
achieve just a little hungry, you are able to eat something you realize
that the body will have the ability to tolerate.
Thus it is vital to pay a visit to a medical doctor when you believe you may have this malady.