Ever want to make a dairy-free pizza, but wondering how to make it taste great? Well, you’re in for a treat! This article presents you with some great tips to get you started!
Making great-tasting pizza at home can be difficult, but making dairy-free pizza that tastes great can be even more challenging.
I’m Kristen Kellogg with Navigating the Allergic Life, and having lived with a dairy allergy all of my life, I’ve become a bit of an expert in making dairy free pizza. Making dairy free food taste amazing is kind of my thing, considering it’s all I know and all I eat!
Ingredients Of A Dairy-Free Pizza
One of the main ingredients of dairy-free pizza is ooey, gooey, stringy cheese. You can also try different types of sauce such as pesto, red sauce, garlic pizza, even white sauce. One of my favorite pizza recipes happens to be my dairy free Chicken Pesto Pizza, but I’ll never turn down a classic with pepperoni and sausage.
When it comes to vegetables, I don’t get too crazy. Spinach, green pepper, and onions are some of my favorites. If I’m feeling a little wild, I’ll throw on some sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil. (My stomach is grumbling as I write this).
There are so many varieties of dairy free pizza, and making it at home can be fun too. Don’t let it be intimidating! Read on, and let me give you a few of my pizza tips to get you started.
Tips For A Great-Tasting Dairy-Free Pizza
1. Pick a delicious sauce.
When it comes to making a delicious dairy free pizza, the sauce is key. Since you don’t have the ridiculous number of choices in cheeses that those regular dairy eaters have, you have to pack a punch with the sauce.
I’m always a fan of the red sauce. I mean, who doesn’t love a classic? But let’s not discount some of the other greats out there! Kick it up a notch and make that red sauce nice and spicy. Or whip up a batch of my dairy free pesto and make that your base.
Want to be really daring? Make a dairy free white sauce! Make a regular roux, add some dairy free milk of your choice, and flavor it with some fresh garlic. It’ll be a hit with all of the pizza lovers out there!
2. Choose cheese wisely.
Next up, we have the cheese. As I said before, there isn’t a wide variety of choices when it comes to dairy-free cheese. It’s surely coming along, though.
Make sure you’ve tested your cheese ahead of time. Some brands of dairy free cheese don’t melt well, and won’t be great for your pizza. Ideally, find something that will mimic that melty, gooey, stringy consistency we’re all aiming for.
You may even find that the way the cheese is packaged makes it melt better. I found out that with some brands, if I buy them in the block and grate them myself, I get a better outcome. Sometimes, sliced cheese works best and you’ll get better coverage. Play around with it and see what works for you.
3. Watch your cooking time. Prebake the crust if necessary.
Another important dairy free pizza-making tip is to watch your cooking time. As I mentioned before, dairy free cheese can (and will) act differently than regular cheese. Therefore you want to be careful with how long you are cooking it.
Aim for as much as 5 minutes less than what the original recipe calls for and check on it. If you decide not to use cheese or have a thicker crust, it might be best to prebake the crust prior to adding the toppings. This way, you won’t have to bake it as long, and the toppings won’t dry out.
Even better? Invest in a pizza stone! I love using a pizza stone to mimic one of those big pizza ovens they have. Nothing gets a crust crispier than this classic tool. I’ll even take it to the grill to get some added flavor from the charcoal. Get crazy with it!
4. Make the toppings count!
Last but not least, make those toppings count! Get creative and add some fun vegetables or meats to the mix. Meats that have a lot of flavors, like spicy sausage or marinated chicken are some of my favorites.
When it comes to vegetables, the world is your oyster. Mushrooms add meatiness to your pizza, and there is a large variety of choices to achieve different flavors. Sun-dried tomatoes are another great option with a lot of very concentrated flavor. Really any vegetable that doesn’t contain too much water will work. Just give it a try!
Conclusion
So there you have it- a few tips to get you started on making a delicious dairy free pizza. It’s important to test out different products and keep an eye on that oven!
What are some of your favorite dairy free pizza-making ideas? Why not make some of it and share it with your family and friends. With this guide, anyone can enjoy your dairy-free treat. Get more pizza-making tips here!