Recipe: Healthy-ish Pizza

I think anyone who is passionate about food will understand the constant battle between wanting to eat a delicious meal and having a slim figure. As I’m not one of those lucky buggers who can eat whatever they want without putting on weight (damn you metabolism!) I’m always on the lookout for healthy alternatives that won’t blow my workout.

These healthy pizzas I’ve discovered are a super simple alternative to one of my favourite naughty treats. Pizzas can easily add up to well over 1,200 calories, but these can amount to less than 300 (as long as you go easy on the cheese…)

Prosciutto and parmesan pizza with fresh basil

Firstly, preheat the oven to gas mark 6 (200C/390F) and spread a tiny (about a half-teaspoon) amount of garlic paste over a wholemeal pitta bread.

You can make your own sauce by heating up a tin of chopped tomatoes and adding finely chopped chillis, a clove of chopped garlic, a squeeze of garlic purée and a squeeze of tomato purée, as well as some dried Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Or, you can buy Lloyd Grossman’s tomato and chilli sauce. I’ve tried both and they’re both yummy, it just depends how much time you have. 

Heat the homemade or Lloyd Grossman sauce on a medium heat for around 10 minutes then spoon some on top of a wholemeal pitta bread.

Now, the toppings are up to you, but some of my favourite combinations are:

• Parmesan, prosciutto and rocket with plenty of black pepper
• Caramelised onion, goat's cheese and fresh basil
• Goat's cheese and asparagus
• Roasted red pepper, cherry tomatoes and spinach

We tried to make a fiorentina pizza but the egg yolk just wouldn’t stay put, no matter what we tried (although the copious amounts of Prosecco *might* have hindered our abilities ever so slightly…)

Depending on your toppings, pop your pizza in the oven for around 12 to 15 mins – keep an eye on how crispy you want them, I like mine pretty crisp. When they’re done, sprinkle some rocket or fresh basil on top with some black pepper and voila! Healthy-ish pizza!

Goat's cheese and caramelised onion with fresh basil 

What are your favourite healthy recipes? x