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?