Vine Ripe Nutrition Logo

A Fresh Approach to Eating

Low Fodmap Vegetarian Pizza Ideas

Can you eat pizza with IBS?

Yes, you can! It depends on what you put on it and what ingredients are in the crust. IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is a GI condition that 10-15 % of us suffer. Common symptoms include pain associated with abdominal bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea and a combination. These symptoms vary from person to person.

The low fodmap diet plays a role in helping about 85% of people with IBS. It is a great way to help people find their IBS triggers.

First of all, my husband and I love making our own pizza at home on Friday night and I have a collection of low fodmap vegetarian pizza ideas. Staying in to make our food is a nice way to wind down from the work week!

High Fodmap Pizza Ingredients That May Trigger IBS Symptoms

Until, my gut did some healing, I could not have garlic, onions and mushrooms on my pizza.

These small changes helped ease my IBS symptoms. I also like to make plant-based pizzas so having it where everyone can top their own pizzas or portion of their pizza makes it so everyone can have the toppings that they like!

High Fodmap Ingredients Include

  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Honey or agave
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Tomato sauce with high fructose corn syrup
  • High fructan pizza crust with wheat, rye and barley

My family started the concept of make your own pizza night!

After that I learned that onions trigger my IBS symptoms, I watch my portion sizes of them, and my tolerance has improved with time, but I still like to add just a modest amount on top of my pizza while my husband may want to add a lot so having individual pizzas makes it easy. Our grandchildren also have fun making their own pizzas and by adding their favorite ingredients!

First, let’s talk a little about the components of tasty low fodmap vegetarian pizza ideas using seasonal ingredients.

Colorful Vegetables Make a Beautiful Pizza
What a great way to eat your vegetables-pizza!

Toppings for Low Fodmap Vegetarian Pizza Ideas

I like to use seasonal pizza toppings when I can. Here are some ideas for seasonal vegetables and fruits that you can use year-round ideas to use. Yes, fruits also make great toppings for pizza also, especially for a dessert pizza, but they also can be savory. You can also check out the combinations for my pizza crust recipe below for inspiration. The number of pizza combinations that you can make are endless!  I love using the Monash University Low Fodmap App for portions sizes and ideas.

Since garlic and onion are a staple for a pizza but many people with IBS are sensitive to them, substitute garlic oil and the green portion of scallions.

Here are some of those seasonal topping ideas:

Fall Pizza Toppings

  • Apples (1/8 cup per person)
  • Greens
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Potatoes

Winter Pizza Toppings

  • Winter Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Potatoes
  • Greens

Spring Pizza Toppings

  • Strawberries
  • Radish
  • Greens
  • Green portion of green onion

Summer Pizza Toppings

  • Tomato
  • Basil
  • Cilantro
  • Eggplant
  • Zucchini
  • Yellow Squash
  • Red Bell Pepper
  • Blueberries
  • A spicy food addition would be jalapenos.
  • Most mushrooms are high in polyols so until you know if they cause you symptoms, you will feel best if you limit them until the challenge phase.

Low Fodmap Vegetarian Pizza Ideas for Protein Toppings

It is important to include protein options for low fodmap vegetarian pizza ideas. Many of us only think of pepperoni, Canadian bacon, sausage and chicken as protein options but there are even more delicious plant-based pizza protein toppings available.

Low Fodmap Protein Toppings for Pizza

  • Roasted Tofu
  • Cooked and crumbled tempeh or Hempeh
  • Low fodmap nuts such as almonds, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts (use low fodmap portion)
  • Low fomap seeds such as chia, flax, poppy, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower (use low fodmap portion)
  • Roasted lentils/garbanzo beans (use low fodmap portion)
  • Vegetarian meatballs/sausage (gluten free and low fodmap)

Other Toppings

  • Black or green olives
  • Avocado (1/4 of one)
  • Red pepper sprinkles
  • Fresh and dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, parsley, basil, cilantro, rosemary and more!

Low Fodmap Vegetarian Pizza Ideas for Sauces

Things to look for in a pizza sauce for those of us who are trying to limit high fodmap ingredients that trigger symptoms include looking for garlic, onions, excess fructose, most mushrooms and green peppers.

Here are some low fodmap sauce ideas:

  • Going without sauce like my pizzas that I am sharing today.
  • Garlic oil from Fody Foods makes it easy to have all the flavor of garlic without the unpleasant symptoms for some of us.
  • Pesto made with garlic oil (garlic free)
  •  Homemade pasta sauce with the green portions of green onion and garlic oil or you can try one of these already made sauces Fody Pasta Sauce and Nellinos with a touch of lavender.

If you click on the affiliate link above for FODY Food, I will receive a portion from the sale.

Low Fodmap cheese

Hard cheeses are mostly all low in lactose which can be a fodmap trigger for many people with IBS. Soft cheeses like ricotta or fresh mozzarella contain lactose and should be eliminated during the first and part of the second phase of the low fodmap diet if a lactose free version is unavailable. Vegan cheese may be a good substitute depending on the ingredients.

A pizza without cheese or vegan cheese may also be an option if you have some interesting toppings and sauce!

Low Fodmap Pizza Crusts

Since many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who are sensitive to wheat are triggered by the carbohydrate (fructan) portion of wheat and not gluten (which is a protein portion of wheat), it is possible for someone with IBS to have bread or a pizza crust made from old fashioned sourdough. This is because the sourdough “starter” breaks down the fructans in a long fermentation. However, the sourdough option will not work for someone with celiac disease unless it is a certified gluten free sourdough.

You will often see xanthan gum used in gluten free baking recipes. This ingredient gives the dough a consistency that is missing from the gluten free doughs to make it a good pizza crust.

Not all gluten free flours and products are low in fodmaps. Read the ingredient list carefully on gluten free products to make sure that you don’t get any hidden fodmaps if you are sensitive to them.

If you are looking for a low fodmap gluten free crust for pizza, here are a few ideas:

Bob’s Red Mill

Pamela’s

King Arthur

You can also buy a premade pizza crust from Udi.

Bulk Proofing the Sourdough
Now is the time for a little bulk proofing.

My Gluten Free Low Fodmap Pizza Crust

I made this pizza crust for a gluten free class that I created for the North Carolina Arboretum. It also works for someone follow the first phase of the low fodmap diet. A little almond flour has been added to give the crust a good flavor and texture but in a low enough amount that this recipe that the recipe is still low fodmap! I used eggs in my recipe to help with consistency. If you want the recipe to be vegan, try vegan egg substitutes or flax egg recipe and experiment with the consistency.

½ cup corn meal (can substitute millet flour)
1 ½ cup brown rice flour
¾ cup tapioca flour
¼ cup corn starch (can also use arrowroot starch or tapioca starch
2 tablespoon almond meal
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 ½ tablespoon sugar
1 package dry yeast
1 cup warm water (70-110 degrees)
¾ teaspoon salt
2 ½ tablespoon olive oil
2 eggs beaten

Parchment Paper
Pizza Pan
Two Large Bowls

Combinations for Low Fodmap Vegetarian Pizza Ideas

These are the toppings that I have used for my pizza party! However, the sky is the limit to what you can make!

Low Fodmap Vegetarian Pizza Ideas

  • Chopped broccoli flowerets, walnuts, chopped green onions and cheddar cheese
  • Sliced red bell peppers, jalapenos and garlic oil
  • Chopped tomatoes, kalamata olives, chopped spinach, fresh basil and feta

Make Crust

Place corn meal, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, corn starch, almond meal, xanthan gum in a bowl and mix lightly.

In a very large bowl, add warm water, yeast and sugar. Let set for a few minutes until bubbly, and then add salt, olive oil and eggs. Lightly add the flour and let rest for a bit in the bowl.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Get pizza toppings ready. Cut a piece of parchment paper the size of pizza pan and lightly grease the paper with olive oil. Then lightly drop the pizza crust onto pan (this dough is sticky so you will either need to grease your hands or dip lightly in rice flour) and lightly spread the dough onto pan making a nice edge. (don’t overwork the dough).

Add toppings

Bake for about 10-15 minutes until crust and cheese are browned and pizza is done in the middle. Makes four mini pizzas  or one 12-14 inch pizza.

Low Fodmap Gluten-Free Pizza Crust
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: gluten-free, low fodmap recipe, plant-based, vegetarian
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Denise Barratt RD
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup corn meal
  • 1 1/2 cup brown rice flour
  • 3/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 1/4 cup corn starch (can also use arrowroot starch or tapioca starch)
  • 2 tablespoons almond meal
  • 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 package dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water (70-110 degrees)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
  1. Place corn meal, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, almond meal, xanthan gum in a bowl and mix lightly.

     In a very large bowl, add warm water, yeast and sugar. Letset for a few minutes until bubbly, and then add salt, olive oil and eggs.Lightly add the flour and let rest for a bit in the bowl.

     Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Get pizza toppingsready. Cut a piece of parchment paper the size of pizza pan and lightly greasethe paper with olive oil. Then lightly drop the pizza crust onto pan (thisdough is sticky so you will either need to grease your hands or dip lightly inrice flour) and lightly spread the dough onto pan making a nice edge. (don’toverwork the dough).

    Add toppings

     Bake for about 10-15 minutes until crust and cheese arebrowned and pizza is done in the middle. Makes four mini pizzas  or one12-14 inch pizza.

Use parchment paper to roll out these little pizzas
Roll pizza thin and top it with ingredients.

Finally, check out some other topping ideas below in one of my previous blog posts. I you find that you are sensitive pear or until you find out if it is one of your trigger foods during phase one of the low fodmap elimination diet, try a small amount of apple to make this fruit and blue cheese pizza with walnuts. It would also be delicious with strawberries and blueberries!

Enjoy Eating Pizza with IBS

In conclusion, I hope that you enjoy eating pizza again with IBS with these low fodmap vegetarian pizza ideas. As an Asheville registered dietitian nutritionist working with people with GI health conditions, as a registered dietitian in Asheville helping people with GI health, I love sharing ideas to help make things easier by sharing delicious recipes. It’s time to have a pizza party! 

If you are wanting to find more ways to reduce your IBS symptoms, you might be interested in signing up for A Fresh Approach to Digestive Wellness. You can find more the program here Fresh Approach Gut Health Diet Plan – Vine Ripe Nutrition

And if you love tacos too, check out this post on low fodmap tacos!

Serve This Pizza with a Salad
Love these personal pizzas!
error: Content is protected !!