The best gluten-free pizza

Preparation time                                   Cooking time                                         Serves

       less than 30 mins                                 30 mins to 1 hour                                Serves 4–6

These easy gluten-free pizzas from Eat Well for Less are packed with delicious hidden veggies, so great for fussy eaters.

Based on six servings, each portion provides 530 kcal, 18g protein, 73g carbohydrate (of which 21g sugars), 16.5g fat (of which 7g saturates), 8g fibre and 1.1g salt.

Ingredients

For the tomato sauce

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 2 sticks celery, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 large carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 large courgettes, finely chopped
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 3 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the pizza base

• 350g/12oz gluten-free pizza mix
• 3 tbsp olive oil

For the toppings

• 2 x 125g balls mozzarella, drained and torn into small pieces
• 80g/3oz wafer thin ham, shredded
• 2 red peppers, cored, deseeded and thinly sliced
• 100g/3½oz mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 4 tomatoes, thinly sliced

• Method

1. To make the tomato sauce, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and celery and fry for 3–4 minutes until just softening.
2. Add the garlic, carrot and courgette to the pan and sweat for a further 2–3 minutes.
3. Add the oregano and tomato purée, mix well then tip in the chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10–12 minutes, or until all the vegetables are tender. Season with the salt and pepper.
4. Use a stick blender to blitz the tomato sauce until smooth. Set aside to cool.
5. Meanwhile, to make the pizzas, tip the flour into a large bowl, make a well in the centre. Pour in the oil with 350ml/12fl oz water. Gradually mix together using a wooden spoon, until you have a sticky dough.
6. Line two large baking trays with baking paper. Divide the dough between the two trays and press out, with wet hands, until it covers the tray evenly. Cover with cling film and set aside to rise for 30 minutes at room temperature, or in the fridge for a couple of hours.
7. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
8. When the dough has risen, put both trays in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove and spread the tomato sauce over the top, leaving just 1cm around the edge free. Scatter over the mozzarella, ham and vegetables.
9. Bake for a further 12 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10. Serve straight away.

• Recipe Tips

  he recipe makes extra, so transfer the remaining sauce to a sealable container and keep in the fridge to have with spaghetti. It freezes well too.