Gluten free pizza was no doubt on the menu on September 30, 2009 at Philadelphia’s Wachovia’s Center during the sixth annual Appetite for Awareness event. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this year’s event.
This event is hosted by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). The title sponsor was Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Drexel’s College of Medicine were also healthcare sponsors in addition to numerous local businesses, restaurants (30 PA and NJ) and many gluten-free food manufacturers.
A gluten-free diet is basically living without wheat, an organic diet of sorts eliminating all foods and food additives that may contain wheat. Many processed foods contain derivatives of wheat. Several million Americans live with celiac disease, but without a diagnosis since the symptoms can range from mild to severe, or no symptom as all. WebMD elaborates on the celiac symptoms and treatment of this digestive, auto-immune disease. Celiac symptoms
Peruse this gluten free checklist to review and determine whether you are one of the many individuals who might benefit from eating gluten-free foods.
Visit Gluten Free Philly, a terrific online blog focusing on the gluten-free community surrounding Philadelphia, PA.
Living Without is a niche magazine offering detailed information about gluten-free foods, gluten-free recipes and resource information on how to purchase gluten-free foods online. I highly recommend subscribing to this magazine.
Gluten Free Newsletter is always on the search for new and interesting gluten-free pizza recipes. If you are a chef, restaurant or home cook who has a gluten-free pizza recipe that you would like us to feature, please send your recipe to: webslices@pizzaandpajamas.com
Gluten Free Pizza Crust
(Yield: Enough pizza for two adults, if your goal is to be very full. This may be enough for three or four if you’re serving salad as well)
1 Tbsp. yeast
1 1/3 c. milk (soy, cow, or rice)
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/3 c. brown rice flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
1 c. corn starch
2 tsp. xanthum gum
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. fennel seed
1/2 tsp. rosemary (dried)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. cider vinegar
Pizza Sauce
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (w/ Italian seasonings)
1/2 of a 6 oz. can of tomato paste
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. fennel seed
1/2 tsp. rosemary
6 fresh basil leaves, minced
1. Start by putting all of the ingredients for the pizza sauce, except for the basil, into a saucepan and heat over medium low. The sauce should simmer while you make the crust and prepare the toppings. We’ll come back to it when later after the spices have had time to get happy.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
3. Heat the milk in the microwave so that it is warm (not so hot that it would burn your finger, just warm). Combine the milk with the sugar and yeast in a small mixing bowl. If you stir the mixture while you slowly pour the milk, then it should all dissolve very nicely. Let this sit while you proceed to the next step - it needs to have time to get bubbly.
4. Combine the brown rice flour, corn starch, xanthum gum and spices in a larger mixing bowl. If the rosemary is not crushed, then I usually chop it up a bit with a knife before I put it in the bowl.
5. Add the oil and vinegar to the yeast mixture, which should have some air bubbles by now. Then pour all of that into the flour mixture and stir well. Once you’ve done this, the dough will be somewhat sticky, and now is a good time to sprinkle some extra rice flour on it. Now that the rice flour is cutting down on the stickiness, form the dough into a ball and let it sit while you get your pans ready.
6. If you’re using pans or a cookie sheet to cook the crusts, you will need to grease them, so that the pizza crust does not stick. Spread butter, olive oil, shortening, or cooking spray on the pan and then sprinkle a bit of rice flour on top of that. ( I use one round and one square cake pan for the pizzas. To me, it’s easier than rolling it out so that I can use my pizza stone. But if you have a pizza stone, feel free to use that, or a cookie sheet.)
7. Split the ball of dough into two pieces - one for each pan. Starting from the middle of the dough, use your fingers to press down on the dough and spread it out towards the edges of the pan. I usually work my way from the center to the edges in a circular pattern. When you get the dough to the edges, continue to push the dough up onto the side of the pan, so that you will have a nice crust.
8. Pop the crusts into the hot oven for 8 minutes. While they are cooking, add the basil to the sauce and prep your pizza toppings. Tonight we used diced onion, diced bell pepper, mushrooms, and black olives.
9. Take the crusts out of the oven. While they cool for a second, use your stick blender to puree the pizza sauce if you do not want it to be chunky.
10. Drizzle some olive oil onto your crusts and spread it over them evenly. (This will keep the pizza sauce from making your crust soggy.). Now add the toppings starting with the pizza sauce and ending with the cheese.
11. Pop the pizza back into the oven for 10 - 15 minutes. The time is not specific, you just want the pizzas to stay in the oven until the cheese starts to brown a bit. Pull the pizzas out, cut, and serve.
