The perfect combination of melt-in-your-mouth cheese, sweet and tangy sauce, lip-smacking topping and crispy yet fluffy crust, is called a pizza. The Italian gourmet is one of most famous and loved dish around the globe. Replete with flavors and taste, it develops a texture which is just too compelling to say no to. Yet, according to a survey, approximately 40% of people feel guilty while relishing it because of its high-calorie intake. In a country where 33% of the total urban population suffers from obesity, being selective in your food choice is always prudent.
Although, what if we can turn the tables and make pizza healthier? What if the calories in the same pizza are no more than the calories in a rusk? Won’t it become a luxury? In this article, I will tell you how to choose a healthier crust, sauce, and toppings to create the most beautiful yet healthy pizza at the same time.
Healthy Pizza Crust:
In order to enhance the nutrition content of the pizza crust, using whole wheat pizza base instead of all-purpose flour is a prudent choice. It yields a light thin crispy crust with a subtle nutty taste. Quick-rising yeast shortens the rising time-period to just 10 minutes and allows you to relish on delicious home-made pizzas even on busy weekdays. Mix the whole-wheat flour with oil, salt and the yeast in a bowl, and pour enough water in it to make a soft dough. Knead it for ten minutes and you will get a non-sticky and smooth dough for your pizza base.
Healthy Pizza Sauce:
Using the fat-oriented, sugar filled and unhealthy pizza sauce does not have to be the only choice we have. There are a lot of healthier options available to go with. Adding just a spoon full of crushed tomato will do it, just like adding salsa, hummus, mashed avocado or even a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil will do. If you have enough time, try whipping up a simple basil pesto to enhance the taste.
Pizza Topping:
Now that we already have a healthy yet delicious crust and sauce, lets come to the best part of a pizza. Load up the pizza with delicious veggies; add hot peppers, mushrooms, onions, cherry tomatoes, or zucchini. You can avoid cow milk and use goat cheese, feta, or buffalo mozzarella instead. As a cherry on the top, sprinkle a handful of arugula at the end.
To make the pizza a complete meal, add some protein to it. Diced chicken, all-natural sausage, lentils, or chickpeas are good sources for a protein induced topping. When it comes to adding of delicious toppings, you are only limited by your imagination.