Enjoy a slice of Italian heaven with the best gluten free, vegan pizza crust of all time. Delicious and totally allergy-friendly!
This post has been updated from it’s original version.
When I saw this month’s Recipe Redux theme, a Vacation-Inspired Recipe, I started running through all of the amazing places I’ve been to and reminiscing about all of the unforgettable meals I’ve had.
Start unpacking your favorite vacation memories. Think about a trip you took state-side or internationally and create a healthy recipe from an unforgettable meal you enjoyed. Or, create a recipe from a native ingredient you saw or tasted on your travels.
I thought about the incredible ceviche I had in Costa Rica, the classic fish & chips from London, the haggis I had in Scotland (ok, that one wasn’t so incredible), but the one that stuck out most was the food from Italy.
Will and I had been dating about 6-months. I was studying abroad in London and he came to visit over spring break. We spent the week galavanting about Venice and Florence. We explored the canals of Venice on a gondola, we went on a wine tour through Tuscany, we saw amazing buildings and some of the most incredible art, and of course, we feasted like Italian kings (baby kings – look how bitty we are!).
I enjoyed pizza and pasta in all of it’s glory, but since those amazing meals, I’ve developed an allergy to wheat. My pizza-eating days seemed to be over.
When Will and I moved in together a few years later, I learned about his family’s tradition of Friday night pizza nights. His dad used to make these incredible pizzas decked out to the nines in veggies and sausage. I didn’t want to deprive Will of his family tradition, so pizza night came to Brooklyn (it’s just monthly instead of weekly for the sake of our waistlines). I, of course, could not have a regular pizza crust, so while Will rolled out his dough, I set out experimenting with creating the perfect gluten free crust.
It took many, many pizza nights experimenting with different flours, ratios, ingredients, pans and cook times. Some crusts came out like crackers. Some were too doughy. The cauliflower crust attempt was an epic fail.
But eventually, finally, I created the best gluten free pizza crust of all time, and it just so happens to also be vegan!
It’s the perfect combo of doughy and crispy. It’s foldable and just pure delicious. It does require a pre-bake in the oven before adding all the toppings, but that doesn’t bug me one bit – just adds to the perfection, really.
The ingredients are simple and the outcome is MWAH! Delizioso.
Ingredients
- sprinkle of arrowroot starch (to create non-stick surface)
- 1 packet fast acting yeast (or about 2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 1/4 cup warm water (divided) + extra as needed
- 3 cups gluten free, all purpose flour (I use Now Foods All Purpose GF Flour)
- 3/4 tsp xanthan gum*
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- dash of salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 395 degrees and liberally dust a rimmed baking sheet or pizza stone with arrowroot starch. This will insure your crust won't stick to your baking sheet/stone.
- While you oven heats up, add 3/4 cup warm water to a bowl. Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow to sit for a few minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine your flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine.
- Create a well in the flour mixture and pour in the remaining 1/2 cup warm water, olive oil and yeast mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined. The dough will be rather sticky. (add more water as needed)
- Place your dough in the center of your baking sheet/stone.
- Wet your hands and gently press the dough out from the center until your crust is about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
- Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove dough from the oven (it should have a few cracks on it - that's ok!).
- Add your toppings (pizza sauce, cheese, veggies, spices)** and place back in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, let cool, cut into 8 equal pieces and enjoy!
Notes
*Omit this if your flour blend already contains xanthan gum. Otherwise you're dough may end up too sticky/gummy. **I suggest putting all veggies and meat underneath your cheese. That way, your cheese can get a nice little crispy crust to it.
Plus, be sure to check out all the other vacation-inspired recipes below!
Love it when something has added benefits (like being vegan as well as GF!). TAKE ME BACK TO ITALY
Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…A Somewhat Normal (and Delicious) Weekend
Easy and delicious! I would eat pizza everyday 🙂 Thanks for linking up for meatless Monday today
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Lentil Tabouleh Salad- Meatless Monday
If only!
Such a lovely story and I can relate! Pizza night was a fav until I was diagnosed with Celiac, than finding out it was a sensitivity years later it was so long since I had a good pizza and then my hubby perfected Neapolitan pizza crust and it’s the only time I deal with the tummy ache and bloat because is’t SO GOOD!! I’m going to have to try this out though for sure! Thank you for sharing and linking up with us for Meatless Monday!
Let me know what you think!
Hurray for vegan pizza crust! I don’t worry about gluten, but I don’t mind eating a little less of it, so I would definitely try this.
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs recently posted…It’s Monday Madness! Share your prAna Weird Workout!
Awesome! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
this looks SO good! I don’t have a gluten allergy but there’s a GF pizza place that I go to and LOVE eating at!
Carmy recently posted…Monday on the Run #50
ooo I want to go!
I love that you found a way to incorporate his family tradition and participate. My husband also LOVES pizza and could probably have it at least one a week or more and never get tired of it.
Coach Henness recently posted…Weird Workouts + A Giveaway
Same with my boyfriend! He loves his pizza.
Haggis?? I was gonna say! Haha!
Totes agree the food in Italy is standout for sure. This pizza crust looks great. And I just happen to have xanthan gum in the freezer too!
Marcia recently posted…Fit a #WeirdWorkout Into Your Busy Day and Win!
Xanthan gum in the freezer? Are you supposed to keep it frozen?!
I LOVED the pizza while we visited Italy- could have eaten it every day! It is fun that you two are carrying on the tradition, that makes life fun!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…August Week Three and the Treadmill!
Thank you for posting this!!! I’ve been avoiding wheat this year and I feel a lot better for it. I’ve been looking for a good pizza crust recipe!
This one is pretty darn delish. Let me know if you try it!
Looks amazing and will be a great option for people with a wheat allergy!!! I love pizza, I miss NY pizza…..
Toni recently posted…NOW Foods Immersion Day 1 #NOWWellness
This looks great! I swear, there are so many gluten free options now! And you have to have pizza.
When we make pizza on the grill, we cook the crust before we put the toppings on. Then it’s back on the grill to heat everything up.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Running with Mother Nature
Pizza on the grill is SO GOOD!
How cool that you studied in London! I’d love to spend an extended period of time in Europe.
Ange // Cowgirl Runs recently posted…If Girls Ran the World
It was so amazing! I’d live there if I could.
I had pizza today–yum! Your recipe looks delish!
Lauren recently posted…Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
Oh, this looks awesome! I love pizza and enjoy finding different ways to make the crust. Thanks!!!
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Keeping It Real
Fantastic! I just had a pretty good pizza crust from our farm share, but I’m sure it wasn’t vegan. This looks great and just what we need!
Rachel recently posted…If Girls Ran the World Virtual Run {Giveaway} + Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie
That crust actually looks delicious (sometimes, GF things look not quite right)! I’m so glad you were able to create something that you can enjoy on pizza night.
Sidenote: The cities I visited in Italy have some of the best food ever. I dream of some of the meals we enjoyed there.
Jenn recently posted…weekly wrap: 8.14 – 8.20
Real Italian food is amazing. Those people know how to cook!
Looks pretty good to me!!! I’ll have to give it a try!
Wowie zowie. I appreciate all your patient testing–I’ve experimented with a lot of gluten-free pizza crusts too, and some of them have been okay, but I’m still waiting on a really good one. This looks super-simple too compared to some of those recipes out there. Totally pinning!
Let me know if you give it a go!
This sounds delicious. I’ll have to share it with my sister-in-law who has to eat both gluten and dairy free.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon Training Log – Weeks 7 and 8
I hope she likes it!
omg that pizza looks amazing. I will have to share with my plantbased friends!
Woohoo! 🙂 🙂
This really does look like the best GF pizza everrr! Now I want pizza STAT!
Annmarie recently posted…Whatever you do, be more human…
It’s pretty bomb, not gunna lie. The next time you visit we’ll make one 🙂
This looks great; not looking to go vegan or gluten free any time soon, but trying recipes of that nature is something that’s been piquing my curiosity as of late!
Thanks! I am actually not vegan myself, but this is still my favorite crust!
I remember the pizza in Italy… it was incredible!
LOVE this version that works for your diet!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Greek Yogurt Chipotle Lime Ranch Dressing
Nice recipe Nicole, I should try this as I suffer from temporary bloating.
Interesting recipe of pizza, thanks for the recipe.
Tadej recently posted…The Best Propane Grill Under 500 Dollars – Easy And Fun Grilling