How to make the best low carb pizza dough

4 ingredients. Less than a quarter of the carbs. Comes together faster than you can say ‘ketogenesis’. 

You’d do just about anything for a pizza, but…

… the thought of the carb overload is enough to send you into a frenzied march towards the pantry to open a can of tuna instead.

[Sound of tuna can opening and getting fork from a drawer] Ahh, that hits the spot.

Actually, no, it DOES NOT!

Thankfully, the can of tuna can stay in the pantry from now on, because I have a pizza dough recipe for you that is less than 5g carbs a serve. Then you can pile it high with your choice of delicious low-carb toppings.

I kid you not.

Introducing our low-carb keto pizza dough recipe (cue the trumpets!)

Our #1 pizza dough recipe has won a tonne of hearts, it’s true (over 400 taste members have given it five stars). But, if you prefer your dough on the skinnier side, then our low-carb keto pizza dough base is crispy and fluffy and will see you through any wild carb cravings, without the guilt. It’s also gluten free (bonus tick!).

So, how do they compare?

Our #1 pizza dough per serving

• Energy: 146 calories
• Total carbs: 25g
• Protein: 4g
• Total fat: 3.5g
• Dietary fibre: 1.5g

Our low-carb keto pizza dough per serving

• Energy: 236 calories
• Total carbs: 4.4g
• Protein: 12.7g
• Total fat: 19.2g
• Dietary fibre: 1.7g

Furthermore, our tasty low-carb pizza dough only has 4 ingredients 

And not one of them is flour (even gluten-free flour). Instead, a harmonious quartet comes together to create a keto-friendly pizza crust that tastes just like the real deal. And they are…

Mozzarella: the true secret to a great low-carb dough is this popular pizza cheese. The mozzarella melts and then works in a similar way to gluten in wheat flour – it provides a flexible protein matrix that traps the air bubbles as the dough bakes to transform it into a bread-like marvel. A subtle cheesy flavour is also a plus, not to mention, this cheese gives the dough a beautiful golden colour when it cooks.

Almond meal: low in carbs and high in healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamin E and magnesium, almond meal is a natural replacement for flour in a low-carb dough. It also brings a slightly nutty flavour and a pleasant texture that is a little denser than it would be if using regular wheat flour.

Cream cheese: the low-carb and high-fat content of cream cheese are both crucial for maintaining ketosis. It also creates moisture, which prevents the dough from becoming dry and crumbly, and it gives the dough a rich and creamy texture, too.

Egg: a triple threat in this pizza dough, egg binds, provides structure and adds moisture.

Combining these 4 ingredients couldn’t be easier either.

Just follow these 2 steps for the very best low-carb keto pizza:

Step 1: Place some grated mozzarella, almond meal and cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and zap, stirring halfway through, for a minute until everything is melted and combined. Beat in the egg vigorously.

Step 2: Roll out the dough, place it on a pizza tray and prick it all over with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes or until puffed and golden. Flip the pizza crust over and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the top is golden. Top with your favourite pizza toppings.

So simple, and the taste community loves it, too, giving praise such as, “​​This is surprisingly good and easy to make. Will definitely make this again” and “​​This worked really well and was delicious! …I’ll be adding this to my fortnightly meal plan!”

Scamper to the full recipe for our low-carb keto pizza dough recipe quicker than you can say ‘ketogenesis’.  

Hot toppers to try

You’ve got the base, so how about the toppings? Our mozzarella, prosciutto and basil pizza is a good place to start, but you choose any combination of these low-carb toppings for your crust and enjoy every bite.

• Mozzarella: there’s already a lot in the base, so you really don’t need to sprinkle on much. You could also use other cheeses such as blue, camembert, brie, cheddar etc…
• No-added-sugar tomato paste, passata or tomato sauce
• Herbs and spices
• Leafy greens, such as baby spinach leaves or kale.
• Deli meats, such as ham, prosciutto and roast beef – look for lean, less processed options, and check that they don’t have hidden sugars.
• Shredded barbecued chicken or chopped chicken breast or thigh fillets.
• Vegies, such as asparagus, zucchini, capsicum, eggplant, mushrooms and tomato
• Prawns
• Olives
• Avocado

Once you’ve hit the sweet spot and made your ultimate pizza using our low-carb dough and your fave combo of toppings, you’ll want to burst into your very best Duolingo Italian and scream buonissimo! For it will be waaaaayyyy better than any can of tuna. 

Buon appetito!

Originally published as How to make the best low carb pizza dough