Gluten-Free Pizza

Topping:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/4 pound bulk sausage or pepperoni (check label for gluten)
• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper (about 1 small)
• 1 cup sliced button mushrooms
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (about 1 small)
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup sliced, drained ripe olives

Remaining Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup bottled gluten-free pizza sauce
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1. To prepare topping, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage in hot oil 5 minutes or until browned; stir to crumble. Add bell pepper, mushrooms, and onion; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Stir in olives; drain sausage mixture on paper towels.

Crust:

• 1 package active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar, divided
• 1 cup warm soy milk, rice dream milk or 2% reduced-fat milk (100° to 110°)
• 4.4 ounces brown rice flour (about 1 cup), divided
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2.  To prepare crust, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm soy milk in a small bowl; let stand 5 minutes.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon 3.3 ounces brown rice flour (3/4 cup) into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Place brown rice flour, remaining 2 teaspoons sugar, cornstarch, and xantham gum, seasoning and sea salt, in a food processor.
4. With the processor on, pour in yeast mixture, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and vinegar through food chute; process 30 seconds, adding 2 tablespoons brown rice flour, 1 tablespoon at a time if necessary, until mixture forms a ball.
5. Coat a 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Place dough on pan; dust with remaining 2 tablespoons brown rice flour to prevent sticking to fingers. Press dough onto pan; crimp edges of dough with fingers to form a rim. Place on bottom rack of oven.
6. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and brush edges of crust with remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil. Spread pizza sauce evenly over crust. Top with sausage mixture and cheese. Place on middle rack of oven. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes. Cool pizza in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Cut into 6 wedges.

Cooking Tip —Xanthan gum is a corn-based product often used in gluten-free baking as a substitute for wheat gluten to thicken and bind. Using too much can result in a baked good that is heavy or gummy, so be sure to measure carefully. Most recipes call for 1 to 2 teaspoons—a little can go a long way.