Muffuletta Pizza is a thin crust gluten-free garlic olive herb studded pizza topped with red roasted bell pepper and sun-dried tomato pesto, ham, salami and special olive Muffuletta toppings.
Muffuletta Pizza - The Ultimate Pizza
You are just going to love this muffuletta pizza as the gluten-free crust is crunchy around the edges and chewy on the inside. The mile high toppings and zesty sun-dried tomato pesto base make you forget all about cheese. Well, that is for me at least. However, if you do not have a dairy issue then some crumbled feta, mozzarella or gouda cheese would be amazing on top of the gluten-free Muffuletta pizza. If you want to go vegan, swap out the ham and salami with some grilled eggplant and zucchini and this little pizza will rock your world.
Italian Immigrants in Louisiana
The Italian Immigrants in Louisiana knew how to really celebrate with their delicious muffuletta sandwiches traditionally made with focaccia bread, loads of cheese, ham, salami, olive pressed sandwich. I made a huge 3 foot traditional muffuletta sandwich for my boys with all the fixings and all of that CHEESE. Then I started having a pity party.. Oh woe is me no wheat, cheese or eggs... One big huge pity party!!!
Gluten-Free and Dairy Free
I began staring at the HUGE muffuletta sandwich that weighed in around 5 pounds, that was getting pressed in the refrigerator with a couple of really heavy books. My personal pity part was on full alert and was going to just settle out for a cold boring salad with some of the muffuletta toppings... but I wanted something a little more fun. Something, I could really sink my teeth into! After all, it is Friday night so why do I have to eat a salad, it's the weekend and this girl needs a little fun.
Brilliant idea came from all of the woeful pity party as I found a box of gluten-free pizza crust in my pantry. So it was settled a Gluten-free Muffuletta Pizza for me. Yeah!!!
Well, the events after that decision were not as easy as you might think. I know your thinking just dump the box of ingredients with some liquid ingredients mix and your done. WRONG!!!
My first attempt to creating a gluten-free crust did not go well. It was an EPIC fail! I was pressing out the pizza dough into a pan just in front of my kitchen window. A huge big gust of wind caught my Thai basil plant came it crashing down from the window and landed on top of my gluten-free crust. There was no 3 second rule when you have soil embedded into your pizza crust. Another brief pity party....but the thought of cold plain salad was not going to happen tonight.
My second attempt went much better as I had closed up the windows and turned the aircon to avoid all risk of a repeated epic fail. I used a delicious recipe from She Likes Food with a few changes and it was absolutely delicious, crunchy edges and chewy crust. Thank you She Likes Food you were a lifesaver! One of the best gluten-free crusts I have ever had. I say this was truly one happy accident that needs to happen again.
There are going to be lots of holiday gatherings over the next few weeks. Trust me "You can't live on turkey alone", so this is fun and easy Muffuletta pizza is just your ticket for a social gathering. Toss a quick salad on the side and your sorted.
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Muffuletta Pizza
Ingredients
Olive Studded Gluten Free Pizza Crust
- 2 cups Brown Rice Flour
gluten-free - 3 tbsp Brown rice flour total 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons
- 1 package yeast
dry - 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1.5 tbsps margarine
melted dairy free margarine (I used an olive oil spread) - 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 cup water
warm (105 to 110 degrees F) - ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp basil
- ½ cup green olives - sliced (I used stuffed green olives with pimentos)
Muffuletta Pizza Toppings (optional)
- ¾ cup 3- Minute Vegan Sun- Dried Tomato Pesto
or store bought - ¼ pound ham sliced thin and cut into matchsticks about 2 inches long
- ¼ pound salami
sliced thin and cut into matchsticks about 2 inches long - 4 ounces roasted red peppers Capsicum) sliced into match sticks
- ⅓ cup green olives
chopped - ⅓ cup kalmata olives
pit removed - ½ onion small red cut into thin strips
- ⅓ cup basil to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Make your olive studded herbed gluten free pizza crust- In a large bowl mix brown rice flour, yeast, salt, maple syrup, melted margarine, olive oil, warm water (105-110 degrees F). Set Aside with a damp tea cloth on top in a warm place for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (or 232 degrees C).
- Grease a pizza pan or baking sheet and press your dough into about a 14 inch pizza crust. Sprinkle the pizza dough with garlic powder and basil. Press the green olive slices into the outer edge of the pizza dough and bake in oven for about 15-18 minutes or just until the edges of the crust start to get golden brown.
- Remove pizza crust from oven and spread the 3 minute Vegan sun-dried tomato pesto onto the pizza crust and spread evenly. Keep about a 1 inch rim around the edge with the olive studded crust without any pesto sauce. Add the chopped ham, salami, roasted red pepper slices, chopped olives and onion.
- Bake completed pizza for another 10 minutes just until the crust in golden and the vegetables, ham and salami are aromatic. (Keep an eye on the crust so it does not burn, if you need to you can wrap a little aluminum foil around the edges to the crust does not burn)
- Remove pizza from oven, garnish with basil leaves, slice and enjoy.
Hi Bam, not sure if you manage to read all my posts but we've gone gluten free in this house. Most bread substitutes are awful. A really grainy mouthfeel. I wondered how the taste of this was. As its only rice flour it should be nice imagine.
All the best for 2016
Going gluten-free is a big change. Actually because this pizza crust is made of only rice flour it has a lovely crunchy texture, no grainy texture like in traditional gluten free crusts and no weird additions like Sorghum.etc. Wishing you a super 2016!
Can I come stay wit chou? You seriously make all the delicious foods. Yarm! I need Muffuletta in my life.
Hope your home visit is tonnes of fun. xo
I just had to comment on this pizza - that is one of the best decorated pizzas I've ever seen! Too bad the soil got added to that first batch of dough & not just the basil - basil's good on pizza but maybe not with the dirt.
Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family. Enjoy your visit home!
Your pictures have me drooling. What a gorgeous pizza! Bummer on the soil in the pizza crust. Don't you just hate it when that happens.
Have a wonderful visit with your parents and a great Thanksgiving!
This is the prettiest pizza I have ever seen 😉
This is a really pretty looking pizza, I guess this can easily win the award of the most beautiful one but apart from looks I bet this would taste as equally amazing
That poor dirty crust! I am so glad you perservered though.I love muffalettas and this looks glorious! Have an awesome visit with your folks and we will miss you!
Isn't this the most beautiful and interesting pizza ever? The crust looks so crunchy and delicious. And I love every single ingredient here!
Have a safe trip Bobbi! Hope you have a great time with your family!
Yes, you definitely can't salvage a pizza base covered in soil! What a shame. I do love the look of your GF pizza base; it does look crunchy. And you have so many beautiful fillings on the pizza. I can have dairy so I'd probably just add a little marinated feta! xx
Thank you Charlie a little marinated feta would be a lovely addition if you can have dairy.
This has got to be one of the prettiest pizzas I've seen in a long while ... maybe ever ... and I must say that the close-ups of the gluten free crust really make it look delicious. Well done to She Likes Food for that!
I hope you have a wonderful time with your grandma, Bam. What a precious time that will be! 🙂
Thanks so much Helen. This gluten free crust really rocks, crunchy edges and chewy interior... Looking forward to catching up upon my return.
What a beautiful pizza!!
Thanks Dawn
The crust looks like a decorative plate - so pretty. But too bad about that first crust - yikes! I always eye the giant muffuletta sandwiches with yearning...but this looks like a lighter and more fun way to enjoy the flavors. Enjoy your break, Bam!
Thank you Monica! We do eat with out eyes first and this pizza has all the fixings of a muffuletta sandwich lightened up, gluten free and dairy free. Looking forward to catching up with upon my return!
Pizza looks so scrumptious! Wish I could grab a bite from it to taste. .
Come on over... 🙂
Bobbi, I might have been tempted to pick out the soil, haha. Have a super trip 🙂
LOL... it was certain in my mind as well but soil in wet pizza dough is a no go. Thanks for your well wishes.
This sounds like a great pizza–I love everything on this!
Thanks Nancy
What a very elegant and different looking pizza ... rarely bake such but just have to create this! An artwork indeed! DO hope you are going to have a very healthy and happy time with your family . . . it has been awhile . . . shall be thinking of you . . .
Thank you Eha and thank you especially for your well wishes. I miss my family so very much.
Wow, if that happened to me I'd threw everything out the window and eat a salad, lol. That looks great and I love the way you styled your veggies. We do eat with our eyes first! Have a beautiful day, my friend!
Trust me Jas, I was only moments away from throwing everything out our apartment window and calling it a day. However my dad used to always tell me not to give up so easy and fight for what you want and trust me I really wanted a pizza. If you order a pizza in Hong Kong there is a 50/50 chance it is going to have tentacles on it and corn.. Don't even get me started. LOL
I love a good muffuletta sandwich. Have never actually made one myself -- always something I've purchased. And never even thought of muffuletta pizza -- that's genius! Totally fun dish. Pretty, too -- which is always important! 🙂 Thanks so much for this.
Geez thanks so much John. I think we need one of your stunning cocktails to go with this muffuletta pizza party. What do you suggest?
Oh my gosh, Bobbi, best looking pizza EVER! I can't believe you persevered after that basil mishap but thank goodness you did because you ended up with such an amazing creation! Love your photos too - SPECTACULAR!! Sharing all over 🙂 I'll be sharing while you're gone, too. Talk soon!
You are making me blush! Thanks so much Robyn for your kind words. Can't wait to catch up upon my return. Take Care, BAM
This is absolutely gorgeous! I love, love the olives in the crust. If a muffaletta is on the menu at a restaurant, I will order it. Every. Single. Time. Can't wait to try this, flavors sound spot-on!
Wow - Bobbi - this is way way more fun that a salad. I gotta tell you, as soon as I read your first line about the roasted bell pepper and sun-dried tomato pesto on this base, I started drooling! What a fantastic pizza - and I'm so glad you didn't throw in the towel when that gust of wind dumped soil all over your first attempt! LOVE LOVE LOVE the mile high toppings too! Gosh - I have to pin this!