Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Recipe

In celebration of my Italian heritage "let us eat pizza!"

Oh, the sweet smell of memories ~smile~ The inviting aroma of homemade pizza instantly transports me back to memory lane. Food & Nostalgia, I find myself conjuring fond memories and happily reminiscing. I truly believe that my mom, Felicetta "joyful one" considers kneading dough a joyful exercise, not a chore. An abundant amount of Italian love goes into everything she makes. 

There is a real sense of pride, satisfaction and love when you cook for family, friends, neighbours, co-workers - people. Especially if you're Italiano.

Food is so much more than something we need to sustain life and nourish our bodies. Food has a remarkable way of drawing people together. Don't you agree? 

Italians take great pride in social interactions. Whether it's northern or southern Italy, the family or famiglia is very important.

Italian Proverb: "A tavola non si invecchia" Translation: "At the table (with good friends and family) you do not become old"

Take a look at this adorable short 1 minute movie clip - The Princess and the Frog - Good Food Brings People Togethter

Viviamo Senza Glutine! Living Without Gluten!

Following a gluten-free diet is not a decision based on fad but one of necessity for many individuals. The reality is that 1 in 133 Canadians are affected by celiac disease and experts estimate that 6 to 15 percent may suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity or intolerance.

  Gluten-Free Italiano: "When the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie that's amore!" - Dean Martin

Mama Mia! "This is too good to be true." is exactly what came to mind after reading the directions on the package. I'm not a frozen pizza kinda gal so this was a great option. Who would have thought that making a pizza crust could be so easy. I honestly wasn't sure I was going to get positive results from the Namaste pizza crust mix. This just wasn't the traditional method of making an Italian pizza crust. It was easier than making an authentic batch of pizza dough! I was pleasantly surprised with the results.


Preheat the oven to 450 F

Combine 1 1/2 cups pizza crust mix with 1 tsp. oil and 1 1/4 cups water. Beat with electric mixer for 3 minutes. Batter will be the consistency of cake batter. Scrape batter onto pizza pan and spread with spatula. It is very important to spread batter to at least 14 inches. 

Baking directions:

Bake for approximately 20 minutes on lowest rack.  Pull the crust out and add sauce and toppings, then bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

I lightly brushed the pizza crust with extra virgin olive oil and added some of my favourite fresh vegetables and herbs. 

Ingredients:
Some of my favourite pizza toppings include:

Tomato pesto sauce (I made homemade tomato sauce & pesto)
Fresh Basil
Peppers
Mushrooms
Artichokes
Sundried tomatoes
Black olives
Mozzarella Cheese (optional) or Daiya deliciously dairy free

Pesto Sauce:

Ingredients:

3 cups of packed fresh basil leaves
1 cup pine nuts (option: you may roast them in the oven as well)
1 cup fresh Italian parsley
3-4 garlic cloves (option: may add more)
1/2 tsp of salt
1 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Grana-Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions:

In a food processor or blender add basil, parsley, pine nuts, garlic, salt and start blending. Add extra virgin olive oil in a slow steady stream. Blend till smooth.

Tip: Make extra and freeze

Add Cheese (optional)

The crust had a slightly golden crisp edge, flexible center and a lovely taste. The pizza crust mix is also yeast and sugar free!

I give Namaste two thumbs up for its simplicity, taste, texture and cooking time.  

Buonissimo! 
But..Mama's is always best :)