For us, Friday night is pizza night! Sometimes we order it, and sometimes I prefer to make it myself. However, “traditional” pizza is certainly not the healthiest food in the world. This is why I decided to experiment with it and came up with this recipe: a high-protein healthy pizza alternative that you can eat whenever you feel like it, without feeling guilty!
With my nutrition expertise, I formulated this delicious high-protein healthy pizza that is not only rich in protein but also lower in carbs and fats compared to store-bought ones. This will help in mitigating any blood spike that would come from an excess of carbs. At the same time, the high-quality proteins contained in the pizza base and toppings will help build and retain muscle mass, which in turn is helpful for weight loss as well.
The star of my pizza is certainly the chickpea crust: this fiber-rich and the gluten-free base is quick to make and requires no-rising time, which makes it super digestible and light. As far as the toppings are concerned, I used both plant and animal sources. However, I also offered vegan alternatives for those who want a fully plant-based recipe.
Last but not least, this pizza is incredibly tasty! Whoever says that healthy pizza is boring will change their mind after trying this recipe!
You can also check Chickpea (Garbanzo) Flour Pizza Crust recipe here, and Oil-Free Pizza Sauce here.
If you prefer a Fully Plant-based Alternative, check it out here.
Want to know more about the amazing benefits of chickpeas? Here is an article for you! Dried Chickpeas vs Canned Chickpeas: main differences and nutritional benefits
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Ingredient Selection Tips
Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour is naturally denser and thicker than white flour and has a stickier texture when added to liquids. If properly sealed, it has a pretty long shelf life. The best way to find out if the flour is good is to smell it: if it has a rancid smell or is moldy, don’t buy it.
Fresh Basil
When looking for fresh basil, opt for bunches with fresh brightly colored leaves and firm stems. Avoid yellow and dark leaves. Fresh leaves also have a quite specific scent when rubbed with fingers, reminiscent of oregano.
Noteworthy Health Benefits
Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour is loaded with very important nutrients and minerals, such as iron, phosphorus, copper, manganese, and magnesium. It is also high in protein and suitable for people with wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, or people with celiac disease.
Basil
Rich in several different minerals and vitamins, like vitamin A, K, calcium, iron, and magnesium, basil may help reduce memory loss and stress-related depression. It may also benefit heart health by reducing blood pressure and relaxing blood vessels.
Spinach
Spinach is rich in Vitamin A, C, K1, folic acid, calcium, and iron. Regular consumption of spinach is great to promote skin and eye health and to support our immune system. The iron contained in this vegetable helps in creating hemoglobin, which in turn brings oxygen to the cells. Meanwhile, the high content of nitrates in spinach help decrease the risk of heart diseases.
Healthy High Protein Pizza w/ Chickpea Crust
Equipment
Ingredients
Pizza Crust
- 1 cup Chickpea Flour
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 cup Water
Pizza Sauce
- 28 oz Whole Tomatoes canned
- 1 can Tomato Paste
- 2 or 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 handfull Fresh Basil
- 1 tsp Oregano dried
- ½ tsp Salt
Topping
- 1 can Chicken or sub chickpeas or tofu pepperon
- 2 oz Fresh Mozzarella or nutritional yeast
- 2 hanfulls Spinach fresh
- ½ Red Pepper
- ½ Onion
- 2 oz Mushrooms
- 1 tsp Parmesan light, optional
- Fresh Basil and/or Oregano optional
- Red Pepper Flakes optional
- more Fresh Garlic optional
Instructions
Pizza Dough
- Preheat the oven to 450 ° F.
- Mix all the dry ingredients into a bowl.
- Add water, and make a dough with oiled hands.
- Split the dough into two parts.
- Roll the dough with a rolling pin on a flored surface.
- Carefully place the dough on a oiled backing tray (alternatively, place it on an iron cast pan, or on a round baking sheet).
- Bake it for about 10 minutes.
Pizza Sauce
- Throw the tomatoes into the blender.
- Add the tomato paste, garlic, basil, oregano, and salt.
- Blend it until smooth.
Topping
- Chop all the veggies.
- Add about ½ of the sauce on top of the crust.
- Top it with spinach.
- Top it with your protein source of choice.
- Add all the veggies, and then top it with the mozzarella cheese.
- Add basil and red pepper flakes.
- Put it again in the oven for about 20 minutes.
- If you like, finish it with a touch of parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
