Real Food Friday Feast - Grain Free Pizza

Pizza is something that I had to learn to do without a long time ago. Between the gluten in the base and the cheese smothering the top of it, I was pretty much out of luck thanks to my IBS. But even if I didn't have IBS, I'm still pretty sure I wouldn't be eating a pizza made at a conventional fast food place, or even a sit down restaurant, unless I was really desperate. You just have to look at what they put into those things to realise it's not going to be terribly good for you:

• The base uses bleached, refined, wheat flour, malted barley flour, sugar, soybean oil, salt, yeast, inactive dried yeast and ascorbic acid, (added as dough conditioner) 
• The sauce usually contains things like: sunflower oil/extra virgin olive oil blend, salt, spices (definitely irradiated), citric acid, sugar, soybean oil and pectinase.
• What is a pizza without cheese?! Of course, it will be skim mozzarella cheese made from pasteurized milk, salt, cultures, modified starch (derived from corn) and sodium propionate (preservative)

You can bet your bottom dollar that none of the ingredients will be organic or free range, the salt will be your basic, toxic table salt as well. All of the spices will be irradiated and most of those ingredients will be GMO or chemical in some way, shape or form.

Some people might say, "It's pizza. It's not meant to be good for you!" but I beg to differ. I think pizza CAN be good for you, while also being very tasty! In fact, you can make ANYTHING good for you if you have control over the ingredients. The way to have that, is to make the food yourself. 

Now, using a grain free flour will give your pizza base a different consistency. It's not going to stick together as well as a wholewheat base. That's why restaurants go with wheat. The gluten is what makes it so chewy and sticky. However, it's the gluten that is so bad for you, whether you have IBS or not, our bodies just don't know how to digest gluten. So it may not stick together as well as a normal pizza, you may end up using a knife and fork (or not if you don't mind messy hands!) To me, that's a small price to pay to be able to eat pizza that doesn't affect my health and, in fact, benefits it.

By the way, coconut flour can be bought at Fruit and Roots in Jhb and I believe the Wellness Warehouse in Cape Town also sells it. Failing that, do a google search and find a supplier in your area. It's pretty easy these days!

Pizza base

4 free range eggs

1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp organic origanum
1 tsp organic basil

1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/3 cup grated cheese (I use goat's cheddar cheese but parmesan is also nice)
1/4 tsp sea salt (or himalayan rock salt)

(If you like garlic, feel free to add a minced clove. I can't eat it so I leave it out)

• In a bowl, mix the eggs, yogurt and salt. 
• Add the coconut flour and mix until smooth. )Give it a few minutes because it takes a while for coconut fibre to absorb liquid.)
• Add the origanum, basil, cumin and cheese.
• Line a pizza pan or any dish, with baking paper.
• Pour the batter onto the paper. (You will need to do half and half if your dish is small. This makes quite a bit of batter)
• Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the batter thinly across the pan (keep it as thin as possible without leaving any gaps in the batter. The shape is up to you!)
• Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes. 
• Remove pan from oven and add whatever toppings you want. 
• Turn your oven to grill and put it back in for about 8-10mins (this will vary from oven to oven so keep an eye on it)

Doesn't look much but I promise its DELISH!

A handy tip: if you have a pizza stone, it's the best way to cook it all the way through without burning the top. If you don't, first place your pan or dish in the oven to get nice and hot and then put the batter in the pan. It won't work AS well but it'll be a slight help.

Perfect Friday night food so go ahead and enjoy:)