Kamil Perry
Pizza is a beloved dish worldwide, but it can be a challenge for those who are lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply looking to reduce their fat intake. While some may argue that pizza without cheese isn't pizza, traditional pizza did not always include cheese. The oldest pizza, the Marinara, for example, does not contain any cheese. For those looking to reduce their cheese intake, there are several options. One can opt for a cheeseless pizza, using alternatives such as a white bean spread or dairy-free pesto as a base. Another option is to reduce the amount of cheese used and experiment with different types of cheese to find those with a lower melting point, such as soft Jack cheese, or a combination of cheeses for both stretch and flavour, like mozzarella and provolone.
How to use less cheese on pizza
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | Vegan, lactose intolerant, reducing fat or processed food intake |
| Base | White bean spread, dairy-free pesto, tomato sauce |
| Toppings | Crunchy vegetables, caramelized onions, chilli peppers, pecans, baby kale, beef steak tomatoes, navy beans, garlic, olive oil, oregano, chives, basil, eggplant, tofu, pineapple |
| Crust | Thick, Sicilian-style, stuffed, thin |
| Oven temperature | 450° Fahrenheit (232°C) or 500°F |
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What You'll Learn
Use a pesto base and crunchy vegetables
If you're looking to cut down on cheese, a pesto base pizza with crunchy vegetables is a great option. This pizza features a thin, crispy crust topped with a zesty pesto sauce, an assortment of fresh vegetables, and a light sprinkle of cheese.
To make this pizza, start by pre-baking a thin pizza crust. You can use a store-bought crust or make your own dough from scratch. For a thin crust, roll out the dough onto a baking sheet or pizza stone. To add extra flavour, rub raw garlic cloves over the crust before adding the toppings.
Next, spread a layer of pesto sauce over the crust. Traditional basil pesto is a great option, but you can also get creative with arugula pesto, kale pesto, or sun-dried tomato pesto. A little bit of pesto goes a long way, so be careful not to add too much.
Now it's time to add the vegetables. This pizza is all about celebrating fresh, seasonal produce. Feel free to use any veggies you like, but some popular options include sliced portobello mushrooms, bell peppers, plum tomatoes, spinach, and extra basil. If you want to add some crunch, try throwing in some chopped nuts or seeds.
Finally, finish the pizza with a light sprinkle of cheese. Shredded mozzarella or a mix of mozzarella and provolone will give you that classic gooey, stretchy texture. If you're looking for a vegan or dairy-free option, you can use plant-based cheese made from nuts or soy.
Bake the pizza until the cheese is golden, bubbly, and toasted. Enjoy your delicious and healthy creation!
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Try a white bean spread as a base
If you're looking to reduce the amount of cheese on your pizza, a white bean spread is a great alternative base. It's a delicious, creamy, and healthy option that works well with a variety of toppings. Here's how to make it:
Ingredients
- White beans (recommended: navy beans)
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Salt
- Your choice of toppings (popular options include: caramelized onions, chili peppers, tomatoes, arugula, and Parmesan cheese)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drain and rinse the white beans.
- Place the beans in a food processor with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. You can adjust the quantities to your taste, but a recommended starting point is 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 4 cloves of garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- Blend the ingredients until you have a smooth spread that is slightly creamier than hummus. You can adjust the consistency by adding more lemon juice or olive oil as needed.
- Prepare your choice of toppings. If you're using onions, thinly slice them and cook slowly over low heat with olive oil and a pinch of salt for 20-30 minutes until caramelized. For tomatoes, slice them thinly and place them on top of the bean spread before baking.
- Roll out your pizza dough as thinly as possible, ideally about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. You can use a combination of olive oil and parchment paper to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Spread the white bean mixture onto the dough as you would with a traditional tomato sauce.
- Add your desired toppings.
- Bake the pizza in the oven. The baking time will depend on your oven and the thickness of your pizza, but a general guideline is to bake at a high temperature for a crispier base.
Using a white bean spread as a base is a creative way to enjoy a cheese-less or reduced-cheese pizza without compromising on taste and texture. It's a versatile option that can be adapted to your preferences and dietary needs.
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Choose a harder, aged cheese that will be less willing to melt
If you're looking to cut down on the amount of cheese in your pizza, one option is to choose a harder, aged cheese that will be more resistant to melting. While softer cheeses like mozzarella are popular choices for pizza due to their meltability and stretchability, they can also make the pizza greasier. Harder cheeses, on the other hand, will provide a different texture and may be more suitable for those who prefer a less gooey pizza.
When selecting a harder cheese, consider the level of ageing, as this will impact its melting properties. For example, a young or minimally aged cheese will have a lower melting point and will still provide some stretch. On the other hand, a well-aged cheese like a two-year-old Parmesan will barely melt at all, providing a completely different texture and flavour profile to your pizza. With a harder cheese, you can use a lighter hand when sprinkling it over your pizza, knowing that it will retain its shape and form during the baking process.
While mozzarella is the classic choice for pizza, it is by no means the only option. Experimenting with different cheeses can lead to some delightful flavour combinations. For example, you could try using a small amount of a strong, aged cheddar or gouda, which will provide a bold flavour without overwhelming the other toppings. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even create your own custom blend of cheeses, combining harder and softer varieties to find the perfect balance of flavour and texture.
When working with harder cheeses, it's important to grate them finely so that they can be distributed evenly across the pizza. This will ensure that every bite has a balanced taste and that the cheese melts somewhat evenly. You may also want to consider mixing the cheese with other toppings, such as herbs or spices, to create a unique flavour profile that complements the cheese's sharpness.
Remember, the key to a great pizza is balance. By choosing a harder, aged cheese, you can create a delicious pizza with a more subtle cheese presence, allowing other toppings to shine through. So, fire up your oven, grab your pizza stone, and get creative with your cheese and topping combinations!
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Make a stuffed pizza with sauce and toppings sandwiched between two layers of crust
Making a stuffed pizza with sauce and toppings sandwiched between two layers of crust is a great way to enjoy pizza without using too much cheese. Here's a detailed guide on how to make it:
Ingredients
For the dough:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Warm water
- Yeast
- Olive oil
- Salt
For the sauce:
- Crushed tomatoes
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil
- Salt
For the toppings:
- Sausage
- Pepperoni
- Mushrooms
- Green peppers
- Red peppers
- Cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Start by combining sugar and warm water in a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture and let it stand for about 5 minutes until it softens and forms a creamy foam.
- Stir in olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture.
- Gradually mix in the flour. You can knead the dough on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise at room temperature for about an hour. For better flavor, you can refrigerate the dough for a few hours or even up to 24 hours.
- To make the sauce, combine crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, garlic powder, olive oil, and salt in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until the tomatoes break down, which should take about 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (230°C).
- Divide the dough into two pieces. One piece should be about three-quarters of the total dough, and the other piece should be the remaining quarter.
- Roll the larger piece of dough into a thin circle, about 12 inches in diameter. This will be the base of your pizza.
- Place the dough circle into an ungreased 9-inch springform pan.
- If you'd like to add cheese, sprinkle some over the dough. A cup of shredded cheese should be enough.
- Layer your desired toppings. In this case, start with a sausage patty, then add pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, and red peppers.
- If you want to add more cheese, sprinkle some over the toppings.
- Place the smaller piece of dough over the fillings. Fold the edges of the dough and seal them by pinching or squeezing.
- Poke several holes in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Spread your sauce evenly on the top crust, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Bake the pizza on the bottom rack of your oven until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, which should take around 40 to 45 minutes.
- If you want more color on the top crust, move the pizza to the top rack for the final 5 to 10 minutes of baking.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
Feel free to get creative with your toppings and adjust the quantities based on your preferences!
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Use less sauce and chop toppings smaller to prevent sliding
Pizza is a beloved dish for many, but it can be a challenge to make a pizza with less cheese that still holds together. The function of cheese on a pizza is to act as a "glue" of sorts, keeping the toppings in place with its texture and greasiness. When reducing the amount of cheese, you can try the following techniques to prevent your toppings from sliding off:
Firstly, use less sauce. By reducing the amount of sauce, you lower the risk of toppings sliding off or sinking into the sauce. This is especially important if you are using a generous amount of toppings. You can also try chopping your toppings into smaller pieces and mixing them into the sauce before spreading this mixture onto your pizza base. This way, the sauce and toppings become more integrated, reducing the chance of sliding.
Another option is to create a “stuffed” pizza. This involves making a thick crust, adding sauce and toppings, and then covering them with another layer of crust before baking. This way, the toppings are securely embedded within the pizza, and you can reduce the amount of cheese needed to keep things in place.
Additionally, consider dehydrating your toppings to remove excess water, as this can prevent them from sliding off the pizza. You can also sprinkle olive oil onto your pizza before baking. The heat will create a vapour that protects your toppings and helps hold them in place, similar to the effect of melted cheese.
Finally, you can try making the edges of your pizza crust higher to better contain the sauce and toppings. This simple adjustment can help prevent toppings from sliding off, even with less cheese.
By following these suggestions, you can successfully reduce the amount of cheese on your pizza while still enjoying a delicious, cohesive slice.
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Frequently asked questions
You can make a pizza without cheese by substituting the cheese with a white bean spread made from blending navy beans, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. You can also add caramelized onions, chilli peppers, and other vegetables of your choice.
A good substitute for cheese on pizza is mashed tofu. You can also use vegan mozzarella cheese, although it may be high in fat and processed vegetable oil.
To make toppings stay intact without cheese, you can make the edges of the crust higher to contain the toppings and use less sauce. You can also chop the toppings into smaller pieces and mix them into the sauce before spreading it on the pizza.
The best type of cheese for pizza is shredded mozzarella cheese, as it has good meltability and stretchability. You can also mix it with provolone, parmesan, or sharp cheddar cheese for added flavor.
The amount of cheese to use on a pizza depends on your preference. A good starting point is to use around 3 tablespoons of cheese per slice, but you can adjust this depending on how cheesy you like your pizza.
