Gluten Free Veggie Pizza
This is a hearty meal made for those cold winter days when you just want to stay inside and keep warm. My pizza is really simple. It’s basically just a large mushroom that’s stuffed full of yummy things that are good for you. Feel free to use whatever veggies you want in this pizza. I also love to use a good ratatouille, a bolognese mix or just a simple ricotta and almond crumble mix.
What’s good about it:
This pizza is a great source of protein, containing all the essential amino acids for recovery. It’s gluten free and low GI, which won’t cause insulin levels to spike. Insulin is an anabolic hormone produced by the pancreas. It increases storage of fat, protein and glucose – It’s main effect in fat is to block lipolysis (oxidation of fat ). The veggies give your body an antioxidant and fibre hit. Fibre comes from plant foods that when eaten are not broken down. The fibre passes straight through our system creating bulk to help get rid of body waste so it keeps you regular and can help lower cholesterol.
1 leek, sliced
2 small zucchini, thinly sliced
handful baby spinach leaves
a little oregano or chopped parsley
2 large Portobello mushrooms, stem removed (500 g / 17 1/2 oz total)
1 cup / approx (200 g / 7 oz) roasted pumpkin chunks (winter squash)
80 g / 2 3/4 oz feta cheese (see notes for options)
Preheat your oven to 200 C / 400 F.
Saute leek and zucchini in a pan over a low to medium heat until soft with a little olive oil.
Add spinach and season with a little white pepper, sea salt and herbs.
Divide the filling between the 2 large mushrooms.
Add roasted pumpkin chunks
Top with feta cheese or some lovely ricotta
Bake for 15 minutes or until the mushrooms have heated through and are slightly collapsed.
Serve alone, with a side salad or steamed greens and a drizzle of lemon and cold pressed olive oil.
Enjoy.
Serves 2
Nutrition per Pizza
Protein: 24.4 g
Total fat: 7.5 g
Saturated: 4 g
Carbs: 15 g
Calcium: 219 mg
Potassium: 1550 mg
Fibre: 11.7 g
Calories: 225
kilojoules: 943
Notes:
Try the following filling alternatives:
Ricotta sprinkled with an almond + lemon crumb
Smashed white beans, leek, pumpkin and fetaRatatouille
Bolognese topped with rocket and fine grated parmesan
Top pizza with tomato chilli salsa when serving
Stuff with chicken and leek + oregano or thyme and a splash of wine.
For a dairy free alternative to the feta try nutritional yeast flakes.
Contact Teresa Cutter
Wow! This sounds absolutely incredible, I cannot WAIT to try it. I’m salivating just thinking about it – yummmmmm! X
omg that sounds delicious… I would never having through of using a mushroom as a base!
Hi Teresa. I’m loving the paleo posts/options, makes my transition to the paleo lifestyle a lot easier and yummier! Just wondering if you have any paleo cake/cupcake recipes? My birthday is coming up and I’d love to treat myself and my friends with some paleo goodness :)
This is fabbo Teresa, I can’t wait to reference link your foods on my new blog. Come past when you have a spare minute xxDani
http://fitnessfoodandstyle.blogspot.com.au or “like” me Facebook.com/FitnessFoodAndStyle
Hi Teresa,
Any alternative to a mushroom base ? Thanks
Hi Teresa,
I love the sounds of this & the Paleo Diet in general. I was wondering if eggs were allowed on it? Thanks :)
Yes definately they are Sonja. :)
Hi Teresa – Im trying to encourage my hubby to go paleo, even primal at this stage. Do you happen to have any ideas for an Almond base?
thankyou again for another great recipe. x
Hi Teresa,
I’m wondering where you’d purchase a big enough field mushroom to use as the pizza baste.
Thanks,
Ron
Ron, most grocers stock larger portobello mushrooms…they don’t have to be too huge – if they are smaller, just use 2 as a serve. T:)
I am at this moment printing the recipe to take shopping, this is for Dinner tonight.
Hi! This sounds delicious and I am very keen to try it. Noting that it is mostly vegetables with the exception of the feta I was curious where the 24grams of protein comes from? Obviously some from the feta – but are mushrooms or the other vege’s particularly high in protein? Very happy about this just curious!
Ta :)
Most is from the feta Nic and there is a little in the vegetables. Glad you love it. xx
Made these for dinner last night and they were amazing – thank you so much
Teresa, we had these tonight for dinner. Absolutely INCREDIBLE! So tasty. Thank you xo
Did cavemen really bake their food in the oven? I do wonder about whether we should be eating a raw food diet. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Thank you
Feta Cheese is paleo? News to me
Elle – Read the post and adapt to your style. I’m not an extremist or fanatical when it comes to my food and diet and enjoy everything in moderation 80/20 style. The recipes I cook on this web site are all foods I enjoy love to eat. I enjoy what you may call my modified primal eating plan – A BALANCED DIET SUITED TO MY NEEDS and focus on plant based food sources that make me feel healthy and works for my body. :)
I totally agree. I love a bit of dessert every now and then (especially the ones from your website!) but I just thought the title “Paleo Pizza” was a bit misleading…but now I see it’s been changed to Paleo-Inspired which is probably a bit more suitable :) Keep up the healthy recipes, my friends & I are converts and can’t get enough of them
Hi Teresa,
I am totally addicted to all your recipes thank you so much! My hubby is amazed at my new culinary skills!!!
Just wondering..you mention a smashed bean, leek, pumpkin & feta ratatouille at the end, is there a recipe for this somewhere or do you just put it all in a saucepan or something?
Many thanks
Claire.