Vegetarian/Paleo quinoa Mediterranean pizzas

One of the hardest things for me when I decided to eliminate all gluten & wheat from my diet was the thought of missing out on Mum’s traditional Italian pizza’s whenever we visited. I knew if I didn’t come up with a substitute & fast, then eventually I would lose all control of my eating habits and give in to that little voice inside my head telling me that a little won’t hurt & then later suffer the consequences that one experiences with a gluten intolerance. The things we do for food huh!!

This pizza to me is the closest I will come to Mums & it’s pretty safe to say that when I make them, I really don’t feel as though I’m missing out! To be honest, it’s the other way around, I feel as though they are missing out!!

Ingredients

Ingredients for base

2 cups white quinoa (cooked according to packet instructions)
2 organic eggs
1 large garlic clove (2 if small)
tsp oregano
tsp salt
Pinch of pepper

Ingredients for topping

1 punnet baby heirloom tomatoes (sliced in half)
1 red capsicum (pre roasted and sliced)
1/2 bunch basil (torn into smaller pieces)
Greek kalamata olives (halved)
red onion very thinly sliced
Vegan mozzarella or bocconcini balls
Olive oil

Ingredients for sauce

1 bottle of Italian tomato passata sauce
1/2 bunch basil
3 garlic cloves
1-2 tsp salt (more to taste)
Pinch pepper
Olive oil (to drizzle)
1/2 cup water

Method

Step 1: Method for sauce

In a medium saucepan, on low heat, lightly fry the garlic in olive oil until you see it slightly turning brown. Add all other remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn down heat & allow to simmer for 30 – 45mins while your preparing step 2 & 3.

Step 3: Method for crust

*Turn on over to 180 degrees/340 F

*Line 2 flat trays with baking paper

Place all crust ingredients into a large bowl and mix together until well combined. Take about a cup’s worth from bowl and on tray, shape into flat pizzas. Once you have all your pizzas shaped out and ready to go, place in the oven for around 10 – 15 mins (just enough for them to lightly brown.

Topping your pizzas

Only add the tomatoes, onion, olives & cheese. Return to oven for 5 -10 mins (remember, your pizzas are already cooked, this step it just to melt to cheese).

Remove from oven and top with remaining ingredients, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt & pepper & serve!

Buon appetito xx

Photographer: Margit Selg