How To Make Garlic And Herb Gluten-Free Pizza Crust
If you follow a gluten-free diet, you might think pizza is one of those foods you can never enjoy again. But, you'd be incorrect! This gluten-free pizza crust is every bit as delicious as a traditional, wheat pizza crust. Its crispy, yet chewy texture comes from a mixture of rice flour and tapioca. Seasoned with garlic and fresh herbs, its flavor is lip-smacking, too. Top this crust with whatever ingredients you like.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white rice flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1 cup tapioca
- ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum (sold in most health food stores)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 package active, dry yeast
- 1 ¼ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the yeast, water and sugar. Let the mixture rest for about 5 minutes. It should become foamy and frothy.
In a second bowl, stir together the rice flours, tapioca, xanthan gum, salt and baking soda. Make sure the ingredients are uniformly combined. Then, create a hole in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir gently until a soft dough forms.
Scatter a little extra white rice flour on a flat surface, and place the dough on top. Add the garlic and herbs. Knead the dough for 2 – 3 minutes to incorporate the herbs and smooth the dough.
Lightly grease another bowl, and place the dough inside. Cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in a warm, dry place to let it rise for 1 – 1 ½ hours. The dough should look bubbly and puffy when finished rising, and it should be about twice its original size.
Flour your hands, and press the extra air out of the pizza dough. Then, shape it into a ball. Place the ball on a pizza pan and let it sit for 20 minutes. While the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Use your hands to press the dough out into a 12-inch circle. Then, place the pan in the oven and bake the crust for 15 minutes. Remove it from the oven and top it with your desired ingredients. Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 15 – 20 minutes. Enjoy!