Portabella Pizza 

Occasionally there is a misconception about folks who watch what they eat.  That we don’t want or crave delicious food.  I’m no fool, I want pizza!

For example, this weekend my friend ate a frozen pizza, the WHOLE pizza actually.  Of course in my head all I could think about was how bad I wanted pizza.

By tweaking the recipe a bit, I get to enjoy pizza and therefore I don’t obsess about it.  It’s when I deny myself that I have a harder time harnessing the willpower and could potentially make a bad decision.  So since I don’t like to say no to myself very often, I created a delicious healthy alternative.  When I want pizza, I make pizza.

Prep time: 5 minutes, Cook time: 25 minutes, Makes 1 serving

Ingredients (use organics when available): 

• 1 large portabella mushroom
• ½ tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. pizza sauce
• ½ cup low-fat or vegan mozzarella cheese
• toppings of your choice (I used black olives & piquante peppadew peppers)
  

Preheat oven to 400.  While oven is preheating gently wipe mushroom cap with a damp paper towel.  You don’t want to put it under the faucet to wash as mushrooms absorb a lot of water.  Next, using the edge of a spoon or a grapefruit spoon, scrape the gills and stem from the underside of the mushroom.  Place mushroom on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray or use a non-stick cooking mat and cook for 10 minutes on the middle rack.  (What this does is draw the moisture out of the mushroom so that your pizza isn’t a big watery mess.)  After 10 minutes, remove the mushroom from the oven and soak up the collected water with a paper towel and brush lightly with olive oil.

Now the fun part.  Spread pizza sauce in the cap and spread ½ of the mozzarella on it.  Next put whatever toppings you like then cover them with the remainder of the cheese.  I put my toppings between the cheese layers because I find it helps keep them nice and cozy in the mushroom cap.

Put your masterpiece back in the oven for 10 – 15 minutes depending on how well done you like your pizza.  Once cooked let stand for 2 – 3 minutes if you can wait that long.

While your pizza is cooking, here are some great portabella mushroom facts:

• Per the USDA, one portabella mushroom has more potassium than a banana.
• When it comes to fresh produce, only mushrooms contain significant amounts of selenium.  Selenium plays an important role in the human immune system and the thyroid system.
• Mushrooms have significant amounts of three B-complex vitamins: riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid. The B vitamins help release energy from the fat, protein, and carbohydrates in food.
• Mushrooms are an excellent source of copper, a mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cells and for other functions.

Calories: 22     Fat: 0.17g     Carbs: 4.26g     Protein: 2.1g

Now eat up and feel a little smug that you got to have your pizza and eat it too!

Sneak Peek:  Look for an upcoming recipe for a pizza crust using cauliflower?  What the deuce?