If you had asked me some years back about gluten free food, I would have looked at you bewildered as I really had no idea about it. But as I started blogging, I started noting many gluten free recipes in food groups and have been getting many requests for it by my readers. So I had to share this Oats Pizza which was one of my successful trials sometime back (had to perfect it before blogging, hence the delay).

After the first try, I fell in love with it. ❤️ It was so delicious and I was hopping like a bunny at how amazing it came out. 😅 Then I have been making it regularly for my kids whenever they crave for pizza and I felt it was a great way to include oats in their diet (hidden in their fav pizza 😀). Even though they are huge fans of my whole wheat vegetable pizza, this came into their favorite list too and they hardly know the difference.

I would also like to share some free gyan (😄) about gluten free diet (for those new to it like me, other know-it-all people can skip 😁). Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and few other grains. People who have celiac disease have gluten intolerance where they get mild to severe allergic symptoms if they eat these grains. But doctors have advised people without this disease to not follow gluten free diet without any reason. So if you are planning to start one, do read well about it and make an informed choice.

As for me, as I always say, its always best to have a wholesome balanced diet including all kinds of healthy foods in different ways to keep it interesting, combining it with regular exercise or brisk walking.

Anyhow hope this recipe is helpful to those of you who love pizza, yet are on a gluten free diet or for people like me who love to try unique recipes 😁. Happy and healthy cooking! ❤️

RECIPE:

Ingredients: {Makes 2 mini pizzas}

For the pizza base:

1 1/2 Cups Instant Oats

1 tsp Instant yeast

1 tsp Honey

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp Water (approx) (+ 2 Tbsp water after rise time)

For the toppings:

1/2 Cup finely chopped Mixed veggies (I used a mix of capsicum, corn, tomato, mushroom)

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Mixed herb seasoning

2 Tbsp Pizza sauce (or any regular ketchup)

1/2 Cup grated Mozarella cheese

Sliced olives for garnish as needed

Oil to grease the oven proof pizza plate

Step by step recipe:

1. Take instant oats in a mixer and dry grind it till it turns into fine powder. 1 1/2 Cups oats gave me 1 1/4 Cups oats powder. Takes about 5 pulses and gets powdered very quickly. Add to a bowl. Also add instant yeast, honey and salt.

2. Now add water little by little till it forms a dough. It should be slightly sticky but still firm. Took me 1/4 Cup plus 2 Tbsp water to form the dough for 1 1/4 Cups Oats powder.

3. Keep the dough to rest, covered in a warm place for 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile add finely chopped veggies, herb seasoning, salt in a bowl. Mix with spoon. You can also add chilli flakes and pepper powder for spicy pizza. I don’t add as I make for my kids.

5. When one hour is done, Preheat the oven at 180 C for 10 mins.

6. Grease the oven proof plate generously with oil. Also oil your fingers. Divide the dough into two portions and make two balls with it. Flatten it onto the plate with your fingers as thin as you can. In simple words, this is like flattening your Bhakris, thalipeeth or akki rottis. 😅

Note: Dough before resting for one hour will be slightly sticky and firm. After resting it will turn hard. Does not rise too but don’t worry, just add 2 Tbsp water to make it soft and it will be easier to spread using fingers. Also oiling your fingers will help you spread it thinly.

7. Now top this with pizza sauce or ketchup. Add veggie mix over it. Top with mozarella cheese and olives.

8. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for about 15 to 18 mins or till the mozarella cheese has a light golden colour to it. Bake in the center rack of your OTG or use both rods option or bake option in conventional oven.

9. Let it cool slightly. Then slice and serve with ketchup or chilli sauce.

Notes:

* You can use oats flour instead of instant oats. Just measure 1 1/4 Cups of flour and continue with the process.

* I have not used rolled oats in this recipe but you could try using. Just that the water required may be little more to form the dough.

* You could substitute honey with sugar but I chose it as it a healthier option while making no change in the output. It is just for yeast to bloom.

* If using dry active yeast, use 1 1/2 tsp of it. Proof it separately in warm water and honey first and then add to the powdered oats, salt mix.

* Dough before resting will be slightly sticky and firm. After resting it will turn hard. Just add 2 Tbsp water to make it soft and it will be easier to spread using fingers. Also oiling your fingers will help you spread it thinly.

* This dough does not rise like regular yeast based dough but don’t worry, the pizza crust turns out very well. Soft, yet firm and delicious.

* Don’t spread thick or else it won’t cook well. Spread thin and evenly.

* I always make mini pizzas with this as it is easier to spread than one large pizza.

* Remember greasing the oven proof plate well with oil so that the pizza does not stick to the plate.

* Bake till the cheese turns light golden in colour. It takes me exactly 18 mins but might be quicker or later depending on your oven. Keep an eye after 14 mins.

* This pizza tastes better when kept for about 10 mins at room temperature as the base turns firm. When it is hot, it is very soft.

* You can add chilli flakes or other seasonings to the pizza. I make this in a very simple way as my kids love this way.

* You can also try this easy whole wheat vegetable pizza which I am making since many years and is my kids’, their friends’ and also my readers’ favorite.

I have tried to note down as much points as possible so that it’s easy for you all to follow but if you still have any doubts, either comment here or message me on my Facebook page Healthy cooking with mitha or on my Instagram handle and I would be happy to help.

Update:

Reader doubt: Oats absorbs more water , was 1/4 cup +2 tbsp water enough ?

My answer: Yes, it was enough for the first time before keeping it to rise. If you add more, it becomes very sticky and difficult to handle. After it rises, it absorbs all the water and becomes hard. Then add 2 Tbsp water again and make it soft enough to make it spreadable with oiled fingers.