The recipe reminds me of traditional South Indian Idli which, like dosa, is made with soaked, ground, and fermented rice and lentils. With that in mind, I started experimenting with different grains and legumes. Today, I'm sharing a simple three ingredient quinoa-lentil crust variation that I think most people will love.
Sort the lentils to remove any small stones or mystery grains before you start. Wash the lentils and quinoa together with two or three changes of water, until the water runs clear. Drain using a fine mesh strainer so you don't lose any quinoa in the sink. Soak the quinoa and lentils together for at least an hour—four hours or more is best. I usually start soaking before I go to work, and it's ready to go when I get home.
Use a food processor or a blender to grind the batter, but don't grind it too smoothly. If it's ground too smoothly, the finished texture will be dense and wet. The batter should have a coarse, grainy texture. A food processor will give you the best results. If you use a blender, pulse the mixture until it forms a coarse batter.
Mix together the simple pizza sauce and prepare the toppings while the crust is baking.
I can't wait any longer. Let's get started!
makes 1 25-30 cm (10-12 inch) crust
1/2 cup quinoa
1/2 red lentils
2 cups water, divided
After soaking, preheat the oven to 205C (400F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
1-156 ml (5.5 ounce) can of tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cracked fennel seed (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1-2 Tablespoons water
Toppings
1 packed cup spinach, chopped
4 mushrooms, chopped
1 Tablespoon sliced black olives
1/2 cup shredded sweet potato
For the sauce: Mix together the sauce ingredients adding 1-2 Tablespoons water to form desired consistency.
For the toppings: Chop the spinach, slice the mushrooms, shred the sweet potato, measure out the black olives. Set aside.
Return the pizza to the oven and bake 15-20 minutes longer, until the vegetables are cooked.
To your health and happiness,
Beans and Rice