Refresh Your Pizza: Healthy Crust Recipes
| 2 min read
It happens like clockwork: You stick to your diet all week, then when the weekend hits all you crave is pizza. Instead of scarfing down half of a large pepperoni and undoing all of your hard work, why not stick to your healthy eating plan and whip up your own nutritious pie? First step: Improve the crust with one of these healthy (and easy to make) recipes. Then top them with loads of nutritious veggies, lean meat, and a light sprinkling of cheese. It’s pizza, without the guilt!
Quinoa crust: This high-protein grain makes a nutty, delicious base, as this recipe from Positively Healthy proves. Put ½ cup quinoa in a bowl with two cups of water and let it sit for four to eight hours. Coat a nine-inch cast-iron skillet with one tablespoon olive oil and heat up in a 450-degree oven. Drain the quinoa and mix it in a blender with ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning and ¼ teaspoon salt. Process until it’s the consistency of a thick batter. Pour batter into preheated pan, spreading evenly, then bake for 10 minutes on each side.
Nutritional information per serving (yields 2 servings) 218 calories, 9.2g fat, 1g saturated fat, 300mg sodium, 29g carbohydrates, 6g protein, 0g sugar
Nutritional information per serving (yields 2 servings) 218 calories, 9.2g fat, 1g saturated fat, 300mg sodium, 29g carbohydrates, 6g protein, 0g sugar
English muffins and pita bread: Whole wheat English muffins have about 120 calories and 3 grams of fiber while whole wheat pitas have around 140 calories and 4 grams of fiber. And they both go great with pizza toppings. Pile sauce, veggies and cheese on top and toast until the cheese melts.
Cauliflower crust: This recipe from Greatist is a super quick way to create a low-calorie pizza crust. Place florets from half of a head of cauliflower into a food processor and pulse until it’s grated. Squeeze the grated cauliflower in a dish towel to get some moisture out. Mix together the two cups grated cauliflower, ½ cup plain yogurt, one egg, one teaspoon Italian seasoning and a dash of salt. Fold together until evenly combined, then place the dough onto a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet (the dough should be about ¾-inches thick). Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees, then add toppings and bake until cheese is melted.
Nutritional information per serving (yields 2 servings) 127 calories, 3.8g fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 432mg sodium, 15.4g carbohydrates, 10.5g protein, 4.4g sugar
Nutritional information per serving (yields 2 servings) 127 calories, 3.8g fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 432mg sodium, 15.4g carbohydrates, 10.5g protein, 4.4g sugar
For more healthy ways to satisfy your pizza craving, check out these blogs:
Photo credit: Meal Makeover Moms
