Keto-Friendly Pizza and Wine Pairing

Craving something that tastes like junk food but won’t throw you out of ketosis? Try our keto-friendly pizza recipe plus a mouthwatering wine pairing! 

 

We don’t know about you, but there’s just something about a slice of pizza that satisfies our craving for junk food. Whether you’re into classic pepperoni and cheese, meat lovers, or a unique mixture of meats and veggies, nothing else will hit the spot when you’re craving pizza. Plus, since National Junk Food Day is coming up (July 21st), we thought this was the perfect time to create a keto-friendly pizza and wine pairing!

Ok, so maybe it’s not exactly junk food. However, we’re kind of into that! We love food, wine, and wellness. Many assume you can’t crush those nutrition goals without cutting out everything delicious. Luckily for you, we’re turning that myth upside down. If we’ve piqued your interest (and your mouth is already watering) then read on for all the delicious details on our keto-friendly pizza recipe!

Intro to Wine Pairing

Before jumping into the pizza recipe, let’s cover a few wine pairing basics. Don’t worry, it won’t be anything too complicated. Plus, we’ve already got a classic wine pairing for you (so feel free to skip ahead if you’re too hungry to wait).

For complete newbies who want a bit of guidance, here are a few tips to get you started.

• Generally, your wine should be slightly sweeter and more acidic than your meal. The wine we’ve selected pairs well with the savory/fatty elements of this recipe, so keep that in mind if you make any adjustments.
• Try to select a wine that has the same flavor intensity as your meal.
• If your wine is bitter, balance it out with fat (cheese, nuts, fatty meats, etc.). 
• If your meal has a flavorful sauce, match the wine to the sauce instead of the meat. With pizza, you have the option to match it to the tomato sauce or your toppings (Psst! We chose to pair it more with the crust and toppings).
• White, sparkling, and rosé wines often create contrasting pairings, meaning they create balance by contrasting tastes and flavors. As an example, think about lime and coconut. The two flavors aren’t similar, but they’re delicious when combined.
• Conversely, red wines generally create congruent pairings. This means they create balance by emphasizing shared flavors. A good example of this would be a savory steak and mushroom combination.

This is a super simplified breakdown, but for the purposes of our wine pairing today it will get us through. If you’re interested in really honing your wine pairing skills, definitely check out our Wine Pairing 101 guide to give you all the details. Now, let’s talk about the wine we’ve selected for today!

Keto-Friendly Pizza and Wine Pairing

For this particular recipe, we wanted a wine that could cut through the fat and bring balance. Obviously, great flavor was a must-have as well. With that in mind, it made sense to select our Guadalmare, Morellino di Scansano. While it has fewer earthy notes than your traditional Sangiovese, this blend of Cab, Merlot, and Sangiovese still has enough acidity to brighten your palate while eating such a rich meal. 

This is often our go-to wine for grilled red meats, rich pasta dishes, and mature cheeses. So, pairing it with pizza just made sense! That being said, we think the aromatic notes of cherries, blackberries, and violet offer a surprisingly fresh contrast to the savory elements of this pizza. 

Our one word of caution involves portion sizes. While this recipe is rich and filling, each sip of this wine will help you feel refreshed and possibly encourage you to consume more than you’d planned. Luckily, each glass has less than 1.5 grams of carbs. So, even if you have an extra glass (or two) you’ll still be relatively on track for your nutrition goals 😉

The SECCO Wine Club Keto-Friendly Pizza Recipe

One of the hardest things about creating a keto-friendly pizza crust is avoiding sogginess. Luckily, this crust has the perfect balance of ingredients to keep things dry without turning into sawdust. Plus, it’s surprisingly versatile! You can choose the shape and level of crust-crispness (say that five times fast, lol). 

If you prefer your crust to be on the crisp side, simply roll it thinner and bake it a bit longer. Are you looking for a softer, thicker crust? Roll that baby thicker and bake according to our instructions below. It’s that easy! Plus, with only four net carbs per serving (this recipe serves four), you’ll feel like you’re eating junk food without sacrificing your hard-earned progress.

Crust Ingredients

• Two large eggs
• Two tablespoons of cottage cheese
• Two tablespoons of butter (melted)
• One cup of almond flour
• Half a teaspoon of garlic powder
• A quarter teaspoon of salt
• One cup of cheddar cheese (shredded)

Toppings

These are all optional. As long as your toppings are meat and/or dairy-based, you can get creative! We just wanted to include a few of our favorite keto-friendly pizza toppings.

• Low-carb pizza sauce of choice (we recommend Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce)
• Shredded cheese of choice (you can’t go wrong with a classic mozzarella)
• Pepperoni
• Spicy Italian sausage
• Low-carb veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach.

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You could also prepare this in an air fryer. If you prefer the latter option, still preheat to 400 degrees.
• While your oven or air fryer heats up, prepare your dough. Start by whisking together the eggs, cottage cheese, and butter in a medium bowl. 
• In a different bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients (almond flour, garlic powder, and salt).
• Add your dry mixture to your wet mixture and stir together. The mixture will be very wet but fear not. The cheese will keep things nice and crispy. Speaking of cheese…
• Stir your cheddar cheese into the dough mixture. It will still be wet, but go ahead and place it on top of your baking sheet and parchment paper.
• Place an additional piece of parchment paper on top of the dough and roll the dough to the desired size, thickness, and shape. We recommend a rolling pin, but we’ve done it by hand in a pinch.
• Gently peel the top parchment sheet off and place the baking sheet with pizza in the oven.
• Bake for 12-14 minutes. Just remember that the longer you bake it, the crispier it will be!
• Remove the crust from the oven and pile on your toppings! Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes (or until the cheese is melted). 

Voila! Remove your keto-friendly pizza and let it cool before serving. Cut that bad boy into slices (or squares), pour yourself a much-deserved glass of wine, and enjoy. You deserve it!

Eating Good Never Felt So Indulgent!

It can sometimes feel like the only way we’ll crush those wellness goals is by cutting out everything delicious. But we just can’t live in a world without wine and pizza! Is there anything more indulgent than watching the stretch of cheese as you cut a pizza slice? Or what about the way the light hits that glass of deep, red wine? We just don’t think those are things you should have to sacrifice on your road to wellness.

Try this recipe out today and give us your review in the comments below! Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for insider tips and discounts. 

Cheers!