Paleo Pizza Pasta

Pizza and pasta. Two of the hardest foods to replace when starting any kind of clean eating diet. Granted, there are numerous cauliflower carb alternatives, but not without a notable after taste and change in texture. Rice, corn, and tapioca have also given pizza and pasta replacements their best shot. But in my experience, still fall short of scratching that distinct “cheat meal” itch.

The amount of trial and error that has occurred in my house is mind blowing. My kids never know what to expect when I tell them we’re having pizza for dinner (skeptical would be an understatement…LOL). Some attempts weren’t too bad, while others left my kiddos with pizza PTSD.

Truthfully, making such a staple menu item without two of it’s foundational ingredients (wheat and dairy) seemed to be the stuff of legends…until now! Wink!

The Secret Weapon

The secret? Taking a less literal “pizza” approach and exploring the world of “mashups.” Gaining in popularity, mashups have been opening doors to some amazing culinary creations for years! Ever heard of a cronut? This delightful flaky donut hybrid wouldn’t exist is someone didn’t ask “what would happen if we made a donut with croissant dough?” The same can be said for brookies, turducken, and my favorite…cheeseburger soup.

The idea for this mashup all started after finding a BOMB recipe for homemade gluten free pasta pasta from Nurture my Gut. This pasta is quick and easy to make, has no weird aftertaste, and texturily resembles the popular Reames brand noodles. Win, win, and WIN!

One Foundation, Endless Possibilites

Though the thought of homemade pasta seems daunting, it’s actually not. A basic pasta dough is one of the easiest recipes you can make! It’s a cool skill to have and a great way to spend time with your kiddos. And you don’t need any fancy equipment to do it!

All you need to do is pour your flour ingredients into a pile on a clean counter. Make a well in the middle and add your eggs. Slowly incorporate the flour into the eggs until it gets to hard to stir. Then, using your hands, knead your dough into a ball for five minutes until well incorporated. Too dry? Add a splash of water and knead. Too wet? Add pinches of flour until you get your desired consistency. It’s really that easy!

Order Up!

Once you have your dough made, it’s time to form your noodles. On a lightly floured surface, roll your dough out as thinly as possible. Then, using a pizza cutter, make thin, vertical slices through the entire pasta sheet (doesn’t have to be perfect). Then, cut the pasta sheet into thirds horizontally. This should leave you with sort of a grid pattern.

Next, use a spatula or bench scrapper to lift sections of the pasta, breaking it up into individual noodles as you go. Boil the noodles for 5-10 minutes, or until they reach your desired tenderness level. Drain your noodles and mix in your favorite pizza sauce. Now, it’s finally time for the toppings!

Conclusion

Serving my picky eaters a new food dish is like watching a panel of Simon Cowells evaluate a singer’s performance. There’s a tense moment of quiet contemplation followed by brutally honest opinions. However, while I was braced for the onslaught, the reviews for this paleo pizza pasta were STELLAR! In fact, it’s quickly becoming a weekly menu planning favorite.

In true MMB style, this recipe is 100% customizable, right down to each person’s individual plate. If you’ll eat it on a pizza, then you’ll eat it in this pasta. Just don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new. After all, trying something new is how this beautiful pizza pasta mashup was born. And let me tell you, we have NOT been disappointed!

Looking for more of our family friendly menu favorites? Check out the MMB Recipes page to get started!