By Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN

Do you ever think of pizza as healthy? Most of us nutrition experts don’t; however, this pizza puts a whole new spin on a healthy dish. This pizza is both vegetable-based, and loaded with healthy fats and fiber. This dish is also extremely versatile as you can add any vegetables and nutrient-packed spices while making it.
The turmeric, added before the dough is cooked, adds extra cancer-fighting benefits as turmeric acts as a major antioxidant in our bodies when heated. In addition, the healthy fat in both the avocado and in the flaxseed also adds anti-inflammatory properties. Lastly, the cauliflower-based crust is loaded with anthoxanthins, found in white-colored produce, which may also contain anti-inflammatory properties and act as an antioxidant.

Enjoy this pizza as a delicious part of any meal and don’t forget to load on the vegetables!

• 5 tbps ground flaxseed

• 1 cup (250 ml) water

• 1 medium – large head of cauliflower, grated or blended in the food processor

• 1 cup/220 g quinoa flour

• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

• 2 tsp turmeric

• 1-2 tbsp each: basil, oregano, parsley, and other herbs of your choice dried or fresh

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F or 218 C.

2. Mix flaxseed with water and allow to sit for 15 minutes while you prepare the cauliflower mixture.

3. Grate the cauliflower with a cheese-grater, or if you have one, use a food processor to grind it up.

4. Once the cauliflower is ready, add it to a medium sauce pan on low to medium heat and warm for approximately 5 minutes to remove some of the moisture.

5. Remove the ground cauliflower from the heat and transfer to a large bowl along with the flaxseed mixture, quinoa flour, nutritional yeast, herbs and spices, and salt and pepper.

6. Mix together well, then spread the dough into two pizzas on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or greased with olive oil.

7. Put pizzas into the oven and allow the crusts to cook for 10 minutes.

8. While crusts are cooking, sauté chopped onion and garlic together in a small sauce pan over medium heat until browned.

9. Remove pizza crust from oven and add sliced tomatoes, onions and garlic, and peppers (and any other vegetables that you choose that need cooking), and place pizzas back in the oven for 15 minutes.

10. After 15 minutes, remove the pizzas and add the spinach, then transfer the pizzas back into the oven for another 5 minutes.

11. After a total of 30 minutes, the pizza toppings should be cooked and the spinach slightly wilted along with the edges of the pizzas browned. Remove from the oven and add avocado.

12. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

• 1 onion, chopped

• 3 cloves garlic chopped

• 5 roma tomatoes, sliced

• 1 large yellow, red, or orange bell pepper (capsicum), chopped

• 2 handfuls spinach

• 1 avocado

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8

Calories: 170
Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 45mg
Carbohydrates: 24g
Fiber: 9g
Sugars: 4g
Protein: 8g