Help with a healthy pizza?

SunofaBeach14

no, I eat real pizza with real crust, because I am not scared of "carbs"...so there is no need for me to substitute something that was never meant to be substituted in the first place...

I knew that. Just wanted to hear you admit it.

Making changes to different food items is called cooking. It's an art and a process of experiementation and evolution.

A crust on a pizza is like a crust on a pie. It can be made of any variety of available ingredients because it's defined by it's form and function - it's a conduit for foods. If you do a bit of world traveling, you'll see many other versions of foods with which you're familiar. Thus, there is no such thing as "real" pizza. There's only what you've experience and what you haven't expereinced. But, of course, you can express an opinion about things you haven't experienced. Humor is refreshing.

Sorry, but no. Just no. I love good food entirely too much to eat garbage. Cauliflower has its uses but pizza crust isn't one of them. Flour is just fine.

Aurely, you've made it, right? :laugh:

Why would I even bother? Pizza crust is not merely some delivery vehicle as you claim above, it makes the pizza. I would no more eat cauliflower crust pizza and call it "pizza" than I would eat raw fish on top of rice without vinegar and call it "sushi." I eat good food and don't waste my time with cookbooks and recipes from people who are afraid of authentic ingredients. If you want to, be my guest. I'm able to enjoy real food and still maintain my health and fitness. I'm magical like that.

Greytfish

Why would I even bother? Pizza crust is not merely some delivery vehicle as you claim above, it makes the pizza. I would no more eat cauliflower crust pizza and call it "pizza" than I would eat raw fish on top of rice without vinegar and call it "sushi." I eat good food and don't waste my time with cookbooks and recipes from people who are afraid of authentic ingredients. If you want to, be my guest. I'm able to enjoy real food and still maintain my health and fitness. I'm magical like that.

You probably wouldn't bother. It would be effort to actually experience something before judging it. Worse, it would be logical.

I'm sure your opinion is of great value to people who don't cook, don't know how to cook, and don't know much about food.

SunofaBeach14

Why would I even bother? Pizza crust is not merely some delivery vehicle as you claim above, it makes the pizza. I would no more eat cauliflower crust pizza and call it "pizza" than I would eat raw fish on top of rice without vinegar and call it "sushi." I eat good food and don't waste my time with cookbooks and recipes from people who are afraid of authentic ingredients. If you want to, be my guest. I'm able to enjoy real food and still maintain my health and fitness. I'm magical like that.

You probably wouldn't bother. It would be effort to actually experience something before judging it. Worse, it would be logical.

I'm sure your opinion is of great value to people who don't cook, don't know how to cook, and don't know much about food.

You assume quite a bit there. I respect my ingredients, have eaten foods most people haven't, and have enjoyed my share of $1000 meals by truly world class chefs. Food matters to me. I have no desire to make unnecessary substitutions. If you do, again be my guest, but I find your offense somewhat amusing. It's rather typical of the dieting set who are desperate to lower their calorie intake by any means necessary and miss the obvious option of simple portion control and more exercise. I am able to maintain on quite a few calories and damn, do I enjoy it. :flowerforyou:

ndj1979

no, I eat real pizza with real crust, because I am not scared of "carbs"...so there is no need for me to substitute something that was never meant to be substituted in the first place...

I knew that. Just wanted to hear you admit it.

Making changes to different food items is called cooking. It's an art and a process of experiementation and evolution.

A crust on a pizza is like a crust on a pie. It can be made of any variety of available ingredients because it's defined by it's form and function - it's a conduit for foods. If you do a bit of world traveling, you'll see many other versions of foods with which you're familiar. Thus, there is no such thing as "real" pizza. There's only what you've experience and what you haven't expereinced. But, of course, you can express an opinion about things you haven't experienced. Humor is refreshing.

You are a pretty funny guy..I see what you tried to do there, amusing. I cook most of my own meals and have no problem eating things that are considered strange. Ever had ink jet risotto, or how about raw squid? I have. So don't try to slip in some BS attempt at "oh you have never traveled the world and never experienced certain foods" line...I do know that cauliflower and pizza - IMHO - have no business going together. I would much rather have wheat and flour for my crust, as I like it crispy and I prefer the taste of real wheat...

Good try though brother, I wait in breathless anticipation for your next attempt at snark and superior than thou commenting...

ndj1979

Why would I even bother? Pizza crust is not merely some delivery vehicle as you claim above, it makes the pizza. I would no more eat cauliflower crust pizza and call it "pizza" than I would eat raw fish on top of rice without vinegar and call it "sushi." I eat good food and don't waste my time with cookbooks and recipes from people who are afraid of authentic ingredients. If you want to, be my guest. I'm able to enjoy real food and still maintain my health and fitness. I'm magical like that.

You probably wouldn't bother. It would be effort to actually experience something before judging it. Worse, it would be logical.

I'm sure your opinion is of great value to people who don't cook, don't know how to cook, and don't know much about food.

so you like real food, but like to come up with substitutions for said real food, and then criticize others for saying they prefer the food without the substitute? Legit...

Snow3y

NO DOUGH PIZZA!!!!!!! This one is a WINNER!!!!

Not really a pizza then eh?

RivenV

Why would I even bother? Pizza crust is not merely some delivery vehicle as you claim above, it makes the pizza. I would no more eat cauliflower crust pizza and call it "pizza" than I would eat raw fish on top of rice without vinegar and call it "sushi." I eat good food and don't waste my time with cookbooks and recipes from people who are afraid of authentic ingredients. If you want to, be my guest. I'm able to enjoy real food and still maintain my health and fitness. I'm magical like that.

You probably wouldn't bother. It would be effort to actually experience something before judging it. Worse, it would be logical.

I'm sure your opinion is of great value to people who don't cook, don't know how to cook, and don't know much about food.

I fancy that I know my way around the kitchen, and I'm a little impressed he knew the different between raw fish + rice and sushi.

I'm more impressed by the fact that he doesn't try to make a vegetable something it's not --like a pizza crust.

FailVibe

Make the base using 1 cauliflower head and 1 egg(shred the cauliflower and combine with the eggs - spread it on a sheet of baking paper and give it a good 15 minutes in the oven on 175C before adding toppings)

Pizza sauce: Blend some tomatoes, garlic and basil.


And I'll say this; You can have your cheesy pizza! Just get a low-fat one, and don't overdo it.
You can sub ham for chicken and add any veggies you like.


This pizza can be really big and only have 300 cals if you only add what you really want.

Padfoot_Prongs

50g half-fat mozzarella cheese
25g low-fat feta cheese
20g tomato puree
1 small white flour tortilla wrap
5 cherry tomatoes
30g baby spinach leaves
Fresh basil leaves, to serve.

This serves one person, and is 246 calories! I'm making it at the weekend, I hope it goes well for you.

GBrady43068

We make individual pizzas using pita pocket bread. Cut it in half lengthwise and toast (if you like your crust crispy) or don't if you don't. Depending on how many calories you're trying to cut you can use tomato sauce instead of "pizza sauce" (most pizza sauce in a jar or can has added sugar or high fructose corn syrup although I'm sure if you look around there are probably no-sugar added sauces in the natural/organic section of your grocery) and just add herbs to it so it isn't bland (I toss in a heavy dose of oregano and basil and a little thyme).

I use turkey pepperoni instead of regular as well and end up with a fairly low calorie decently filling version.

You could probably also doing a "chicken BBQ" pita pizza with chicken breast and a more savory as opposed to sweet bottled barbecue (we usually go with Stubb's) or make it yourself if so inclined.

And of course you can always do a veggie pizza to remove the meat calories if you don't skipping it.

And I'll also add: If only the "real thing" will satisfy, leave room within your macros by taking it easier on other meals and upping the workout and just eat take-out pizza.

ETA: I just had several slices of pizza for lunch...and it wasn't the pita version. I'll just do my best to make it "fit" into the rest of the day.

Greytfish

Actually, no. You can't judge what you haven't tried. Period. You can only theorize, which is not at all the same thing at all.

And, you are you to judge the OP for wanting to substitute ingredients for any reason? When you cook you make adjustments and substitutions all the time. While some people may want to use a cauliflower crust because the calories are lower, other people do it simply to get their vegetables in a different format because they prefer it over other textures, and some do it because they cannot have gluten.

Not that it's all that impressive, but yes, I've had squid ink risotto (not to be confused with ink jet risotto, which is probably lesser in print quality than laser risotto) and had squid prepared dozens of ways. Lots of chefs in my circle and I like to eat.

I like all kinds of food, but I don't criticize food I have not actually tried - and I've tried a lot and will try just about anything. If I wouldn't try it, I certainly wouldn't feel I could judge it.

Oh, and wheat is a vegetable.

GBrady43068

Don't eat pizza. Done.

For the rest of your life.

Some goals are not worth accomplishing.

True dat.

RivenV

Actually, no. You can't judge what you haven't tried. Period. You can only theorize, which is not at all the same thing at all.

And, you are you to judge the OP for wanting to substitute ingredients for any reason? When you cook you make adjustments and substitutions all the time. While some people may want to use a cauliflower crust because the calories are lower, other people do it simply to get their vegetables in a different format because they prefer it over other textures, and some do it because they cannot have gluten.

Not that it's all that impressive, but yes, I've had squid ink risotto (not to be confused with ink jet risotto, which is probably lesser in print quality than laser risotto) and had squid prepared dozens of ways. Lots of chefs in my circle and I like to eat.

I like all kinds of food, but I don't criticize food I have not actually tried - and I've tried a lot and will try just about anything. If I wouldn't try it, I certainly wouldn't feel I could judge it.

Oh, and wheat is a vegetable.

Anyone ever seen "Dead Like Me"? It's a sort of dark comedy, I guess. Anyway, there's this scene where this "Der Waffle Haus" customer wants to order a patty melt. Basically, he wants the cheese melted on the bread instead of the patty, and he wants kraut on it. The cook (Rube) resists. Goes like this.

Rube: Hey. How are you doing? You order a patty melt?
Customer: Yeah. Is there a problem?
Rue: You don't know what a patty melt is. A patty melt not only implies what it is but also how it's prepared. The cheese is melted on the patty.
Customer: I like the cheese on the bread.
Rube: That would be a bread melt, more commonly known as a grilled cheese. How about I make you a nice grilled cheese?
Customer (petulant at this point): I want a patty melt with kraut and cheese melted on the bread.
Rube: Sorry. I can't do that.
Customer: What do you mean?
Rube: Well, you give on one little thing, you compromise and compromise.. .until you're a shell of a man beaten down and you stand for nothing.
Customer: ... I want to talk to the manager.
Rube: A dish is a collection of flavours, consistencies. Start swapping ingredients and it's like f**king with a Jenga tower of tastes. You don't know what you're asking for.
Customer: I know.
Rube: Kraut on Der Patty Melt is akin to knocking the tower down.
Customer: "Der Patty Melt" should have kraut on it.
Rube: ... "Der" is German for "the." The Waffle House. The patty melt.
Customer: I want der f**king patty melt with der cheese melted on der bread with der f**king kraut on it! Got it?
Rube: No, you got it. On der house. (Rube knocks the "unsatisfactory" patty melt that had been on the plate in front of the customer into the customer's lap.)

eta: typo

WinoGelato

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods both have whole wheat pizza dough that you can roll out yourself to your own thickness. We've made homemade crusts from scratch, used Boboli crusts, my husband even bought a Chef Boyardee kit a few weeks ago because he thought it would be fun with the kids. All were good in their own way! I also enjoy the tortilla pizza (we used to make those as afternoon snacks when I was a kid).

Topping wise - here are some combinations I like - some are lower calorie than others.

I like to buy flavored chicken sausage, like spinach/asiago from Sams, cut those into coins and put that on pizza with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and sun dried tomatoes. I use regular shredded mozzerella for that one.

Traditional margherita pizza with sliced fresh mozzerella, good tomato sauce and basil. We make this one on the grill a lot in summer time with basil from our garden.

I also enjoy pesto as a sauce instead of tomato sauce sometimes. It's actually more calories but it is really good with chicken, spinach, feta, and roasted garlic. I usually do shredded mozzerella on this one.

We made mexican chicken/white bean pizza one evening. Mash a can of great northern beans with some cumin and minced garlic and a little bit of olive oil. Use that as the "sauce", then a little bit of salsa, grilled chicken, and monterey jack cheese. Sprinkled with fresh cilantro it was amazing

If we are doing Friday night pizza with the kids we usually just do sausage, pepperoni and black olives. We might do heart shaped pizza this week.

We have pizza almost every week. I can usually make 2-3 slices fit in my day, even with the beer!

Derpes

Your best bet is a thin, wheat flour based crust.

I cannot, in good conscience, refer to cauliflower as pizza. I just cannot do it!!!

BarbieAS

I'm from Chicago. I know good pizza. I appreciate good pizza. Sausage patty deep dish pizza. Yes, we're talking not chunks of sausage here and there, but a solid layer of Italian sausage on your pizza.

With that said....I actually don't mind the cauliflower crust "pizza." It's one of those things where you have to go into it with the appropriate expectations. It's not going to taste like wheat-based pizza crust. If the crust is your favorite part, then it might not be for you. But, it's a perfectly fine transport for pizza toppings, and if you're the sort of person who would eat an entire pizza in a sitting every day if you could make it fit your macros (not that I know anything about that), then it's a good once-in-awhile sub. My tip is to make it without sauce - do the crust, put down a sprinkle of olive oil and garlic, then do your cheese and toppings. Then heat up some pizza sauce to dip it into. The "crust" stays a little crustier that way.

Amazonbella

I use the FOLDOUT Flatbread and put 1 tbsp. Olive oil on it, then sprinkle Italian seasoning on it and as many CHOPPED up veggies as possible, from cauliflower to broccoli to carrots to mushrooms....you can literally customize it to your liking. I add onions and garlic (fresh) and then use the low fat or fat free cheese on top to melt it down.

I made it for a group of my girlfriends who LOVED it, then in turn made it for their husbands. They didn't care it was "HEALTHY" they just loved how good it tasted!

crevices

for anyone that wants a frozen pizza (if you dont care about being ""healthy"") with really low cals i suggest mccains ultra thin crust pizzas.. ive had the pollo variety and spinach provolone and they were delicious. it's about the size of a large plate, a whole pizza is ~600 calories. i usually eat half and have some scrambled egg whites and salad as a side for some protein etc and the other half the next day