Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Whole Wheat Pizza

Did anyone say NO to pizza ? That too if it is made of cent percent healthy stuffs.


Last Sunday, I took the kitchen cleaning job. Though I live in America, still my litchen is very Indian. Like our mom does in her kitchen, I changed all the kitchen cabinet papers and put them a new one. When I was doing so, I came across an article from a health magazine, which I was using to put inside the cabinets.
'7 Steps to eat clean and healthy food in the dirty world'
  1. Be a (Mostly) Vegetarian
  2. Eat Organic
  3. Skip the White stuff
  4. Count the ingredients
  5. Identify it
  6. Eat the whole thing
  7. Ban the brew
Suddenly, a light flashed inside me. Being a vegetarian, at least I should follow some simple steps to stay healthy. This Whole wheat pizza is the one spark from that flash.
This is 100% whole wheat pizza with lots of green vegetables and cheese. In my dictionary, Pizza means cheese and cheese means Pizza. Everybody might think that this girl has put this much cheese on her pizza and still calling healthy. Oh yes, the main highlight in this Pizza is the cheese. Its a gluten free, cholesterol free with 0g trans fat. I found this amazing cheese alternative from 'Whole Foods' organic shop.

You can find lot different flavoured cheese alternative in this brand. I am a big fan of this. These cheese alternatives are best substitute for the fatty cheese.
Twice I bought whole wheat pizza crust, wanted to try the same at home and the result was very encouraging. I would like to share the recipe, so you all can also enjoy a healthy comfort cheese pizza.



Ingredients :

For Pizza Base:
3 & 3/4 cup -- Whole wheat flour
1 pack -- Dry yeast
2 tsp -- Olive oil
1/2 tsp -- honey / sugar
1 tsp -- Salt

For Topping
2 to 3 cups -- Rice shreds cheese alternative**
1/2 cup -- finely chopped green and yellow bell pepper**
1/2 cup -- finely chopped onion**
1/2 cup -- sliced tomatoes**
1/4 cup -- Organic tomato basil sauce**
**Above are the things which I used, you can always change or add your style of toppings.

Method:
--- For pizza base, take a cup of  Luke warm water to activate the dry yeast. The water should be neither hot or cold. I do not have any food thermometer at home. To activate the yeast I take half a cup of water. Put it on the stove for about 30 - 40 seconds and switch off the heat and add remaining half cup water. This is my small trick to activate the yeast. If it works to you, share it with me.
--- In the warm water add the full pack of yeast and honey / sugar. Let this mixture stand for 5 minutes.
Warm water is to activate the yeast and Sugar/ Honey is the food for the yeast.
--- Now you can see a thick layer of foam over the water, if not probably the yeast is not activated. Better luck next time, you have to try again with fresh pack.
--- When the yeast is ready to use, mix it with the wheat flour + salt. Add water in little, as you start kneading the dough.
---  Once the dough is ready, apply the oil over the dough and cover it with a damp towel for couple of hours.
--- This is the time span yeast will take to grow. After an hour you can see the whole dough has doubled in size.
--- Knead the dough and again keep it for an hour.
--- Pizza dough is ready to roll. Cut the whole dough into four quarters.
You can make a 9" pizza from a quarter, if you  are not going to use all, take unused dough apply olive oil and put it in a zip log bag and throw it inside the freezer, it will last for minimum 2 month.
--- Roll the dough to 1/4" thick, add the toppings and bake it in the oven for 425 F for 12 to 15 minutes.
Yummy, cheesy, healthy pizza will come out of the hot oven.

Now tell me, did anyone say NO to this organic healthy pizza ?

3 comments:

  1. Wow!superb recipe..love it..
    you have a wonderful space Dear..do drop in at my blog too..
    www.nithubala.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very gorgeous and irresistible pizza..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yummy yummy pizza and so very healthy..Lovely recipe Preeths..

    Gayu
    http://ensamayalarangam.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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