Tasty Fast 800 pizza recipe is an easy mid-week meal for quick weight loss

04 January 2024 , 11:24

677     0

Pizza and weight loss may see like a contradiction - but this recipe only has 313 calories per serving (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Pizza and weight loss never usually go hand in hand - but things are about to change.

As Brits across the nation enter the New Year with aspirations to shed the Christmas weight and get fit, many of us are looking for healthy recipes that contrast against our endless roasts and indulgent buffets. Dr Michael Mosley, who devised the online diet plan the Fast 800, has long helped people reach their weight loss goals.

Followers of the diet are to restrict their caloric intake to 800 a day for just two days of the week, and adhere to a Mediterranean-style diet for the other five days. Fast 800 aims to get dieters into the stage of ketosis, which involves avoiding sugar or carbs that spike your blood sugar.

Dr Michael Mosley created the highly popular Fast 800 diet (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"So for the first phase of the diet, carb-rich bread, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pasta and potatoes are off the table and out of the house," Dr Mosely said. "Even a biscuit or a small chocolate bar could be enough to tip your body out of ketosis." The 800 calorie restriction should be done for a minimum of two weeks (four days in total) but for no more than 12 weeks.

The expert's tasty tomato, chorizo and mozzarella pizza with rocket dough contains just 313 calories per serving and uses ground almonds instead of flour to avoid carbs and help 'achieve ketosis'. It's also ready to eat in less than half an hour and contains ingredients you probably already have lying around in the kitchen.

Dr Michael Mosley shares exercise that can cut cholesterol and blood pressure

Ingredients (Makes five bases and one pizza topping)

• Ground almonds (140g)
• Psyllium husk (60g)
• Chorizo, diced (15g)
• Warm water (200ml)
• Olive oil (50ml)
• 2 tsp cider vinegar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 3 eggs white
• 1/4 ball of mozzarella, torn
• Small handful of rocket

Want big stories with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter

Method

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius fan/ 180 degrees Celsius/ gas mark six. Combine all of the dry ingredients together then add the egg whites, warm water, cider vinegar, and olive oil. Mix it all together until well combined into a 'dough-like ball'.
• Divide the mixture into five balls, using a few drops of olive oil to prevent dough sticking to your fingers. Place one ball onto a piece on non-stick parchment paper and add another piece on top. Using a rolling pin, press down and roll the the dough to 1-2mm thickness.
• This recipe is only for one full pizza, but you can roll out the other four bases and store them in the fridge or freezer for another day. Transfer the parchment paper to a baking tray then spread the dough with the tomato puree and add the chorizo and mozzarella on top. Season with oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
• Bake for around 15 minutes, or until the pizza is golden brown around the edges. Once removed from the oven, scattering with rocket and fill half the plate with salad.

Et voila! A low-calorie pizza that will satisfy those cravings while keeping you on track for your New Year weight loss goals. Feel free to swap the toppings to suit - and go crazy with the seasonings.

Liam Gilliver