Keto Pizza with Pepperoni, Parmesan and Basil

If only I knew that I could eat Pizza every week on Keto diet, I would have started it sooner. Yes, I may soon start craving for my all time favorite comfort foods (Rice, Dal and Bhajas) but right now, I am really happy with my diet. The fun part is, we are loosing weight regularly and it’s especially commendable when you have Pizza for dinner the previous night and the next morning the weight scale shows that you have lost weight! It just brings a big smile on my face. 

Last week I baked a Pepperoni Pizza. It had lots of Mozzarella Cheese and Pepperoni and although I wanted to have another slice, I was so full that I couldn’t. So, this week I decided to bake it again only this time with more flavors. I went to the grocery shop and got some fresh Basil and a block of good quality Parmesan Cheese. It hardly took 15 minutes to bake and was a hit! Now I should tell you that the Mozzarella Cheese we will be using in this pizza is just the regular shredded pack which I got from Costco. It’s economical and delicious. So give this pizza a try and if you are also on keto diet, may your pizza nights be as good as ours.


Bon Appetit!

Ingredients for the Pizza base:

• Mozzarella Cheese - 1 ½ cups, shredded
• Cream Cheese - 1 ounce, cut into cubes
• Eggs – 2, large, beaten
• Coconut Flour – 1/3 cup 
• Garlic Powder – ¼ teaspoon

Toppings:

• Low Carb Marinara Sauce – ½ cup 
• Fresh Basil Leaves – a handful, washed
• Mozzarella Cheese – ½ cup, shredded
• Parmesan Cheese – ½ cup, shredded
• Pepperoni – 1 small pack
• Olive Oil – 1 tablespoon

Others:

• Red Chili Flakes
• Parchment Paper
• Dried Oregano

Tip: I use Botticelli low carb marinara sauce (available at Costco).

Directions to bake the Pizza base:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. 
• Line a baking sheet or pizza pan with parchment paper.
• Combine the Mozzarella Cheese and Cream Cheese in a microwave safe large bowl. 
• Microwave for 45 seconds, stir with a spatula. Then put it back and microwave for another 45 seconds. Stir again until everything is well combined. 
• Stir in the beaten Eggs, Garlic Powder and Coconut Flour. The mixture will be hot so be very careful while kneading with your hands. You can use a rubber or plastic spatula. Knead until a dough forms. 

Tip: If the dough becomes hard before fully mixed, microwave for 10-15 seconds. It will soften it.

• Transfer the dough onto the lined baking pan and cover it with another piece of parchment (this will make the rolling much easier, otherwise it will stick on the rolling pin and your hands).
• Roll the dough using your hands or a rolling pin. Make sure to keep the center thin and the sides a little bit thick. Roll it into an 8-inch pizza base.

Tip: Make ahead – you can roll the dough and keep it covered in a cool dry place till you are ready to bake. 

• Use a toothpick or fork to poke lots of holes throughout the crust to prevent bubbling.
• Bake for 6 minutes. Poke more holes in any places where you see bubbles forming. Bake for 2-4 more minutes, until golden brown (keep a watch on the pizza base while baking the second time, we don’t want it to get brown).
• Once the base is ready, let’s assemble our Pizza.

To assemble the Pizza:

• Spread the Marinara Sauce generously on the pizza base. 
• Arrange a layer of Pepperoni slices in a single layer over it.
• Sprinkle the Mozzarella Cheese over it. 
• Arrange the Fresh Basil Leaves on top along with the Parmesan Cheese and another layer of Pepperoni slices.
• Return the pizza back to the oven for 5 more minutes or until the crust edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
• As a finishing touch, drizzle the Olive Oil before cutting. 
• Sprinkle some Red Chili Flakes and Dried Oregano. Enjoy.

Tips: 

• You will have about half of the Pepperoni unused. You can store it in a zip lock pack in the freezer. Reuse whenever you want.
• You can freeze the pizza slices as well. Use parchment paper to line the slices on top of each other and freeze in zip lock bags. When ready to eat again, bake them at 425 till the cheese bubbles.

Recommended Reading (Keto recipes):

• Tandoori Chicken
• Butter Chicken (Indian Recipe: Chicken pieces in a creamy buttery gravy)
• Mughlai Kabab
• Grilled Salmon with Shrimp and Peppers
• Almond Flour Pancakes - Keto Brunch Recipes
• Avocado Smoothie
• Yummy Almond Flour Bread with Ghee and Spices
• Grilled Lamb Kababs
• Avocado Strawberry Smoothie
• Guacamole with Goat Cheese and Bacon
• Keto Pizza with grilled Chicken and Shrimp
• Dhaba Wala Saag Chicken (Chicken in Spinach Curry Rustic Indian Style)
• Egg Drop Soup
• Chocolate Ganache - Keto Dessert
• Tomato Basil Soup
• Cream of Asparagus Soup
• Keto Pizza with Shrimp and Basil Pesto
• Mushroom Salad with Fried Eggs