Who doesn’t love pizza? That tasty goodness with its doughy base and cheese that’s gooey just in all the right places, and garnished with your favorite toppings? Pizza is a comfort food for many, and it can be a little disappointing when you discover you have to see it off your menu due to your new gluten-free lifestyle. The good news, however, is that you don’t have to! Yes, you read that right. Pizza can absolutely be a part of your gluten-free lifestyle.
The crucial factor here is the flour. Typical pizza dough is made from wheat flour, which naturally contains gluten. This is what makes the dough stretchy and gives pizza its quintessential mouth-feel. Navigating how to make the perfect gluten-free pizza dough can seem like a gigantic challenge, but we are here to make it easy for you!
Remember when we talked about the [Guide to Gluten-Free Flours](link here)? Well, it’s time to revisit that post because it’s going to be your treasure map for finding the perfect flour to make your gluten-free pizza. Playing around with different blends can have surprising (and delicious!) results. My personal favorite is a mixture of sorghum, brown rice, and chickpea flours.
Now, the trick to get the doughy texture we all dearly miss is xanthan gum! Xanthan gum is the secret to giving your pizza dough that elasticity and fiber structure that gluten usually brings. As a bonus, it also helps to retain moisture, so your pizza doesn’t end up as dry as a biscuit!
Next ingredient to our magical potion: Yeast. Yeast will help your pizza dough rise and result in that soft interior encased in a crisp outer crust. But remember to let the yeast interact with the sugar first. This process is called “proofing” and it’d give your dough a better texture and flavor.
The concept of making gluten-free pizza might initiate some culinary anxiety, but I promise you, it’s very much doable and much more of an adventure than a daunting task. We learn as we go on this journey, and we develop our palette as we try new flavors and textures – and sometimes create some too!
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don’t. Seriously, don’t. You don’t always have to plan a shopping trip around making this culinary masterpiece. There are pre-made gluten-free pizza bases available in the market. Just make sure to check the labels, or keep an eye out for our [Gluten-Free Shopping Guide](link here) before you add to the cart.
Some brands sell gluten-free pizza bases that are ready to cook — you just have to pile on your favorite toppings and pop it into the oven. And voila, mouth-watering, gooey, gluten-free pizza is yours to feast on! Convenient, isn’t it? Especially for those days when the pizza cravings hit hard, but the chef in you doesn’t want to come out and play.
Now let’s talk about the pizza sauce. While most homemade pizza sauces are naturally gluten-free since they are primarily composed of tomatoes, herbs, and spices, some store-bought versions may contain thickeners or flavor enhancers that have gluten. So, always read the labels before purchasing or when in doubt, make your own at home! There’s nothing like a homemade pizza sauce, trust me.
Toppings? Why should they be a concern at all? You’d be surprised. While most vegetables, meats, and cheese are naturally gluten-free, processed variants can be sneaky hiding spots for gluten. So always double-check your pepperoni, sausages, or any other processed toppings.
Being gluten-free does not mean missing out on comfort foods or the foods we love. It merely means tweaking them a bit to fit into our lifestyle. And honestly, these small adventures and experiments in the kitchen make the whole gluten-free journey even more interesting. So, slide that pizza into your oven and watch as the cheese melts and bubbles. Make sure to share your pizza pictures with us. We love to see your kitchen victories!
Remember, the transition to a gluten-free lifestyle does require a bit of ingenuity and creativity in the kitchen, but believe me, it’s worth every bit of effort, especially when you’re sinking your teeth into your homemade gluten-free pizza!
**Category: Baking & Cooking Science**
