Power Pizzas

August 11, 2008, 7:01 amwomenshealth

For a slice that packs a nutritional punch, dish up any one of these tasty recipes.

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Chocolate raspberry dessert "pizza"



Helps you: Increase your calcium consumption
Serves 8
1 box low-fat brownie mix, 12-serving size (like Betty Crocker Brownies Mix Chocolate Fudge Low Fat)
200g low-fat vanilla yoghurt
300ml light thickened cream, whipped (like Bulla Extra Light Thickened Cream, 12% fat)
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 tbs chocolate sauce
1 tbs dry roasted almonds
low-fat cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 175°C. Spray a deep-dish baking pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, stir yoghurt into brownie mix until combined well. Pour mixture into pan and spread with a spatula.

2. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean. Let brownie cool completely. Keeping brownie in pan so it doesn't break, spoon whipped cream to cover all but outer centimetre.

3. Sprinkle on raspberries, then drizzle chocolate sauce in a fine stream to create a crisscross pattern across the pie. Sprinkle almonds over top. Cut into 8 slices and serve.

Per serving: 1507kJ, 6g protein, 24g carbs, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 4g fibre, 232mg sodium

If you scream for ice cream...
Let the brownie cool for just 5 minutes. Then slice it - skipping the cream - and add a scoop of your favorite ice-cream.

The pay-off
Yoghurt is rich in calcium, potassium, and protein, plus live bacteria that aid in digestion and protect you against harmful bacteria. As for the raspberries, they're rich in fibre and vitamin C.

Thai Prawn Pizza



Helps you: Pump up your protein
Serves 4 (2 slices each)
450g fresh or frozen pizza dough(or plain, ready-made pizza base)
220g raw, peeled and deveined prawns (about 30 to 40)
salt to taste
olive olive spray
1 tsp plus 2 tbs satay sauce (spicy if you like)
55 g shredded, low- fat mozzarella (about 1 cup)
3/4 cup bean sprouts
3 baby carrots (or half a large carrot), shredded
1 tbs dry-roasted, unsalted peanuts

1. Let the dough defrost and rise (if necessary) according to packet directions.

2.Cut prawns into 1 cm pieces. Sprinkle lightly with salt (to help prawns plump). Preheat oven to 230C. Spray a large nonstick frying pan with olive oil spray, then place over medium-high heat. Add prawns and cook 2 minutes (outsides should be pink; insides will not be fully cooked).

3. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp satay sauce. Press dough into a 30cm round on a nonstick pizza pan. Spread remaining satay sauce evenly over all but the outer centimetre of the crust.

4. Top wiht cheese, sprouts, carrots, prawns, onions and peanuts. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is lightly browned. Let stand for 5 minutes. Cut into 8 slices and serve immediately.

Per serving: 1691 kilojoules, 24 g protein, 56 g carbohydrates, 8 g fat (3 g saturated), 4 g fibre, 560 mg sodium.

If you like whole grains...
Forgo the white crust for and use wheat, such as Bazaar wholemeal Lebanese Bread, which goes thin 'n' crispy if you grill the pizza for 5 minutes after cooking.

The payoff
Prawns are swimming with essential nutrients like selenium and vitamins D and B12. Plus they're a great source of low-fat, low-kilojoule protein: A 100 gram serving supplies 23.7 grams of protein, but only 470 kilojoules and less than 2 grams of fat. And the satay sauce is full of polyphenols, antioxidants that help fight off cancer, according to recent research by the University of Florida in the US.

Portobello Gorgonzola Pizza


Helps you: Control cholesterol and fill up on fibre
Serves 4
4 x 16 cm diameter pita bread circles
olive oil spray
1 cup Red onion slivers
1 cups Portobello mushroom caps, sliced
Salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
85 g Crumbled gorgonzola (or blue cheese)
6 tsp chopped Garlic blend (such as Gourmet Garden Blend)
1 tsp Fresh rosemary leaves

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Put pita circles directly on oven rack and cook 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until just crisped through.

2. Meanwhile, preheat medium frying pan over medium heat. Spray pan with oil, then add onions and mushrooms. Cook until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and stir cheese.

3. Spread garlic over crisped pitas. Top with mushroom mixture and sprinkle with rosemary. Cut each pizza into four wedges. Server immediately.

Per Serving: 1272 kilojoules, 13 g protein, 43 g carbohydrates, 9 g fat (5 g saturated), 4 g fiber, 639 mg sodium

If you love vegies...
Get in more of the good stuff by swapping grilled zucchini, capsicum, sqaush, or eggplant to the pizza.

The payoff
Raise a cap to mushrooms: They're rich in total dietary fibres, including those associated with lower cholesterol (chitin) and healthy hearts (beta-glutan), according to a study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. And garlic is full of health benefits: It boosts the immune system and helps moderate blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol.

For more power pizza recipes, including a get slim Mexican pizza, check out page 98 of the September issue of Women's Health.

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