Vegetarian - Rice Crust Pizza

The rice crust is gluten free and healthy. I found a recipe about 20 years ago similar to my recipe, however, I have modified it in order to have it workable and with a nice taste. If desired, you can change the filling to a good old fashioned Italian Style filling.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• RICE CRUST

• 2  cups long grain white rice or 2  cups brown rice, uncooked
• 4  cups water or 4  cups vegetable broth
• 1  large egg, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup  grated mozzarella cheese
• 1⁄16 teaspoon Tabasco sauce or 1⁄16 teaspoon  red hot sauce

• VEGETARIAN FILLING

• 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce
• 2  cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  Italian herb seasoning
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 2 1⁄2 cups  grated mozzarella cheese, , divided
• 1  cup mushroom, sliced
• 1  medium green pepper, seeded and sliced
• 1  medium  sweet red pepper, seeded and sliced
• 1  medium  fresh tomatoes, , sliced
• 1  medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1  tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1. RICE CRUST-----------------.
2. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
3. In a medium size saucepan, add rice and water or broth.
4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
5. Fluff rice with a fork and set aside to cool slightly.
6. In a mixing bowl, combine cooked rice, beaten egg, mozzarella cheese and Tabasco sauce and mix well.
7. Press mixture evenly into a lightly greased 12 inch pizza pan, covering bottom and sides.
8. Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 4 minutes or until set.
9. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before adding filling.
10. VEGETARIAN FILLING------------.
11. In a mixing bowl, stir together tomato sauce, garlic, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, oregano, basil, Italian herb seasoning and black pepper.
12. Spread sauce mixture over the bottom of the rice crust.
13. Sprinkle over with 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese.
14. Arrange sliced mushrooms, green peppers, red peppers, sliced tomatoes, and sliced red onion in layers.
15. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of remaining mozzarella cheese over top.
16. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
17. Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 15 minutes or until cheese bubbles.
18. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
19. You can also use chopped fresh broccoli as another vegetable.