The Best Quinoa Pizza Crust Recipes

QUINOA CRUST PIZZA

Steps:

• For the crust: Put the quinoa in a medium bowl and cover with water by about 1 inch. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or up to overnight.
• For the sauce: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook until the edges are light golden, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1/2 cup water and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes. Set aside while you make the crust.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a pizza stone or baking sheet on the bottom rack. Drain the soaked quinoa and rinse well. Line a rimmed half-sheet pan with parchment paper and brush the paper with olive oil. Put the quinoa in a food processor with the oil, baking powder, salt and 2/3 cup water and process to make a smooth, thick batter. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake on the hot pizza stone until set, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Flip the crust over in the pan and remove the parchment. (If the crust sticks to the sides, run a knife around the edge to loosen.) Bake until the top is crusty and the edges are crisp, about 5 minutes more.
• Spread the pizza sauce on the crust, almost to the edges. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan and top with the pepperoni. Roughly tear the basil leaves and scatter over the top. Bake the pizza on the top rack until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.

3 INGREDIENT INDIVIDUAL QUINOA PIZZA CRUST (NO SOAKING!)

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the quinoa and water into a small saucepan, adding a dash of salt and bring to a boil.
• Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, and simmer approximately 15 minutes or until the quinoa is soft and fluffy. **IMPORTANT:** You should not let the quinoa absorb ALL of the water, there should be a couple teaspoons left, although the quinoa will be cooked.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the warm cooked quinoa, its liquid (should not be more than a tablespoon), the oil, and the flour. Mush it all together with your hands until a dough like texture is achieved.
• (At this point, you can add any seasonings to the dough you would like. I used cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, oregano, dill, and a bit of sriacha. You may omit this step but your crust won't have as much flavor!).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and shape the dough on it into a circle. The crust should be 1 cm thick and yield one pizza about 6 inches in diameter.
• Bake ten minutes, flip, and bake ten more minutes. You want to keep flipping the pizza so both sides are evenly crisped, however long that takes. If you don't do this correctly, the pizza will be "wet". Do not add your toppings until the crust is crisped on both sides!
• Remove from the oven and remove the parchment from the pan. Now you can add your toppings to your pizza. Return it to the pan (no parchment), and bake it for about 10 more minutes, or until everything looks crisp and melted.
• Remove from the oven again, cut into pieces, and enjoy!

SHEET PAN QUINOA PIZZA CRUST RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Place the quinoa in a medium bowl. Add enough water to cover the quinoa, about 1½ cups (360 ml).
• Cover with plastic wrap and soak, at room temperature, for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray.
• Drain and rinse the quinoa.
• Add the quinoa, 1 cup (240 ml) of water, the baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and Parmesan cheese to a food processor. Blend for about 2 minutes, or until a smooth batter forms.
• Pour the batter onto the baking sheet, using a spatula to spread evenly.
• Bake the crust for 15 minutes. Flip the crust, removing the parchment paper, and bake for 10 minutes more, or until golden brown.
• Top the crust with the pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese, then add your favorite toppings.
• Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until cheese bubbling and slightly brown.
• Cut pizza into squares and serve.
• Enjoy!

PIZZA DOUGH

Steps:

• It's easiest to make this in a standing mixer with a dough hook (otherwise mix it in a bowl and knead on your work surface). Put the flour and salt in the bowl and mix the yeast into the water. It's always a good idea to wait 5 mins before using the liquid to see if the yeast is working - little bits will start to rise to the top and you'll know it's active.
• Turn on the motor and pour in the liquid. Keep the speed on medium-high and it should come together as a ball. If the bottom is still sticking, tip in 1-2 tbsp of flour. Knead for 5-7 mins until the dough is shiny and it springs back when you press your finger into it. (If kneading by hand, it will take you about 10 mins.) Try not to add too much flour if you can. This is a slightly sticky dough, but that keeps it light and it rises beautifully.
• Use oiled hands to remove the dough from the hook and bowl. Oil another bowl and place the dough in it. Turn it around so that it's lightly coated in the oil. Cover tightly with cling film and then a tea towel. Place in a draught-free area that's warm and leave until the dough has doubled in size. If it's a hot day, it should only take 2 hrs to rise, but it could take 4 hrs if it's cold. (If you don't plan to use the dough for a day or two, place it in the fridge straight away; take it out 3-4 hrs before using. Punch it down first and bring it together on a floured surface.)
• Divide the dough into 2 pieces for big pizzas or 4 for plate-sized ones, then shape into balls (see Shaping the dough in tips, below) - dust them in flour as they will be sticky. Keep them covered with a tea towel or cling film while you prepare the toppings. (you can also freeze them in sealed bags. Just thaw in the fridge on the day, then bring to room temperature 3 hrs before using.)
• To shape the dough: If you want to get air pockets and a light but crisp dough, then don't use a rolling pin. It flattens and pops the air bubbles. (Two days in the fridge will produce the most air bubbles - take it out three to four hours before using.) If your dough is at room temperature, you can use your fingers to gently stretch the dough out. Once it's about 16cm, place the disc over the tops of your hands (not palm side) and use them to stretch it further, up to about 25cm. You can start pressing out the other discs, then wait to do the final bit when you're ready to cook. Once you've mastered stretching the dough out, you can experiment with other shapes: rectangles, rounds or squares all look authentic.
• To cook the pizza: An outdoor gas barbecue is best for controlling the temperature, but charcoal will give your pizza a more authentic, smoky flavour. For gas, turn the flames down to medium-low so that the bottom of the pizza doesn't burn. When cooking on a charcoal barbecue, let the coals turn grey before you pop on the pizza.
• Place the pizza on a floured baking sheet (with no edge) or a pizza peel - this is a flat pizza paddle with a long handle, which makes it easier to get the dough on and off the grill. The flour will provide the 'wheels' for it to slide onto the grill - don't use oil as it sticks more and won't transfer as well.
• Make sure the grill is hot and the flames have died back if cooking on charcoal. Slide the dough onto the grill, close the lid (if your barbecue has one) and give it three to four minutes. The dough will puff up; it's ready when the bottom has light brown stripes. Use tongs to pull the dough off and turn it upside down.
• Assemble the pizza of your choice - see 'Goes well with', right, for topping suggestions. Remember that less is more, as the dough will stay crisper and the toppings will cook better.
• Place the pizza back on the grill, uncooked-side down, and shut the lid. Give it another three to four minutes, then remove when the cheese is melted and the toppings are hot.