Low Carb Tofu Pizzas
Everybody Loves Pizza
Pizzas are one of my favorite foods in the world.Not only is it easy and convenient to eat, the combination of chewy dough, tomato sauce and cheese is something most can't resist. For those of us who live a low-carb lifestyle, pizzas are the last thing that should be on our minds. There are fake breads and other things on the market but they usually cost a lot of money or made with things that are unnatural or just taste bad.
In Japan, we've been using the deep-fried tofu pouches or aburaage for centuries. It can be used in many dishes and even made into sushi such as the inari sushi. However many Japanese like to make pizza out of them and they just happen to be low carb.
*Photos taken by myself unless otherwise noted.
Using Deep-Fried Tofu or Aburaage
Let's Get Started!
Here is a great recipe for a low carb pizza that's easy to make and delicious! Most low carb pizza recipes call for a meat base. However this is an alternative for those who are either vegetarians or are just trying to cut back on meat consumption. I personally don't eat a lot of meat so this works great for me.
The main ingredient in this version of a low carb pizza is using aburaage, which are deep fried tofu pouches. Aburaage are sold in varying thickness depending on the brand but I suggest using the thinner versions. They provide a crispier base and the flavor of the tofu is almost non-existent, letting you fully enjoy the flavor of the pizza itself.
Aburaage is a Japanese food product made from soybeans. It is made by cutting tofu into thin slices and deep frying first at 110~120 °C then at 180~200 °C again. In Japan, aburaage is often used to make inari-sushi or added to miso soup. It is also added to udon noodle dishes which are called kitsune-udon because of legends that foxes like deep-fried tofu. Aburaage can be purchased at most Japanese or Asian supermarkets.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 15
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- Aburaage (deep-fried tofu pouches) x 4
- 4 tablespoons pizza or pasta sauce (preferably with no sugar)
- 4 tablespoons grated cheese
- Your favorite toppings such as chopped mushrooms
- sliced tomatoes or other vegetables
Instructions
- 1.Spread a tablespoon of spaghetti or pasta sauce on the aburaage pieces.
- 2.Top with grated cheese and your preferred toppings. You may sprinkle the pizzas with some dried or fresh basil if you like.
- 3. Place your pizzas in an oven or toaster oven. Cook on medium-high heat until cheese melts and the top is a nice toasted color.
- 4.Gently place the aburaage pizzas on a plate and serve immediately.
- The pizzas are best eaten right out of the oven while the aburaage is still a little crispy. After a few minutes, they will start to become soggy.
Creative toppings
You can use almost anything as a topping for the aburaage bases. Just remember to treat them as a thin-crust pizza as they are fragile than the thick crust kind. Here are some unique topping ideas you can try.
*Avocado and cream cheese
*Ham and pineapple
*Tuna, chopped green onions, miso, mayo and sliced nori ( no tomato sauce )
*Natto (fermented soybeans), chopped green onions and chopped nori ( no tomato sauce )
*Shrimp and clams
*Photo courtesy of http://www.beeboo.co.jp/
Creative Uses For Tofu
Replace the cream with tofu and use in dips
Make a mock egg salad with tofu
Cut into cubes, deep fry and sprinkle with salt for a healthy low-carb appetizer
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Watch This Video to See How Easy It Is
The Tofu Survey
How often do you eat tofu?
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