Low-Carb Pizza Tortilla Recipe

When trying to lose weight, there are many options. Calorie counting, Weight Watchers, Paleo are all tried on a daily basis with varying degrees of success for its adherents. However, one that’s always difficult to sustain for a long period of time is a low carb diet, if only because the foods you can’t eat are the foods you want to eat. This includes pizza, with its carb-filled crust being strictly off limits.



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Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to give up the idea of pizza. While traditional pizza isn’t recommended, there are low-carb variations, such as a simple-to-make tortilla pizza that isn’t quite the perfect replacement for normal pizza, but is a great way to satisfy those cravings.

While making a tortilla pizza is very simple - after all it’s just a tortilla with toppings - you have to make sure that all the ingredients are suitable for the diet. This means starting with the perfect low-carb pizza crust.

My personal favorite are MIssion Carb-Balance tortillas. They come in varying sizes, allowing you to make a large or small pizza depending on how hungry you are. Each tortilla has approximately six grams of carbs depending on the size, making it a suitable crust substitution that won’t wreck your diet but still give you a satisfying pizza. Whatever tortilla you select, make sure it’s explicitly low-carb.

To start, add a layer of olive oil to a medium-sized pan over medium heat. Add the tortilla and lightly cook it for a 2-3 minutes. When it starts to get crispy, add the toppings. Now, to keep things low-carb, you’re going to want to use low-carb ingredients, which is difficult considering most marinara sauce has plenty of carbs. To solve this problem, your best bet is to either make your own using crushed tomatoes and spices, or to simply purchase a low-carb brand of pizza sauce. These can typically be found at most health food stores, such as Whole Foods.

Add the sauce, followed by the cheese and the toppings of your choice. If you’re doing low-carb, you’re probably using a lot of meat toppings, so be sure to pile them on. Cook until the tortilla starts to turn crispy, but not burnt, and the cheese has sufficiently melted. Remove from the pan and place onto some paper towels to absorb the oil and let cool - it’s going to be hot! Once it’s cool dig in and enjoy the low-carb goodness.

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Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:00 AM