Last week we attended the launch of Dr Oetker’s Gluten Free pizza range to sample some bits and report back on what we thought of the GF options.  As a gluten-loving woman I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have an open mind and stomach.

Knowing that Coeliac disease (sensitivity to gluten) impacts 1 in 100 people in the UK brings a big reason for companies such as Dr Oetker to introduce a gluten-free option for their customers. Because everyone loves a bit of pizza, right? So why not give us all a good option?

We were greeted by a pleasant  pop-up restaurant type set up in Soho, tables for sides and a dessert choice and staff brought round both gluten/standard and gluten-free pizza slices with a few flavours to pick from.

We are talking about the Dr Oetker Ristorante frozen pizza line here, and I do occasionally buy these for myself at home if I need a quick dinner so I have to say I am a fan and know what the pizzas taste like generally.  Obviously as a frozen pizza these aren’t going to be gourmet but they do a fab job in the frozen pizza universe, and I can get them from the local corner shop – in central London the bigger supermarkets aren’t as easily accessible so this is very handy.

The two gluten-free flavours available in Iceland Warehouse and Tesco from October 2016 are:

Mozzarella – Mozzarella (surprise!!), sliced baby tomatoes, a drizzle of pesto and some tomato sauce on a thin and crispy base

Salame – Lightly spiced slices of salami, cheese and then the tomato sauce on that very same thin and crispy base

I went for the Mozzarella pizza but..aha!! I was tactical and picked one slice of standard and one of gluten-free pizza… and…*drumroll*… I really couldn’t taste the difference between the gluten free and glutenny choices.  Usually GF offerings are a different consistency, a little bit cakey or so thin (to over compensate for not wanting to be cakey) they turn into something that reminds of biting into a kettle chip.  However, with these there was a crispy base but as a thin based pizza shoud have, which is a surprise!

As I tried both gluten-full and gluten-free pizzas one bite after another, this allowed me to properly compare both and although i love the gluten, I really couldn’t find a reason to complain at all about the GF version.

I also tried just the GF version of the Salame and it was pretty good too – again if I wasn’t told it was gluten-free then I would have been none the wiser.

Now I had mentioned Coeliac disease with regards to gluten intolerance, but some folks also choose to avoid gluten – I have had friends who have done so – but removing gluten from your diet by choice can also lead to a form of intolerance.  If you go cold (gluten) turkey and then attempt to digest gluten after a long period of not having it then you can give yourself some symptoms of Coeliac disease.  If you have backed yourself into this gluten corner then these GF pizzas are also for you.  However, although I am not a doctor I would never recommend giving yourself an intolerance voluntarily so if you are severely reducing a particular food make sure you don’t cut it out totally.

We were also given the above pictured sides and puddings to sample which aren’t produced directly by Dr Oetker but they are making the recipes available for their social media followers (links at the bottom of this post!), so keep your eyes peeled!!  And as these are all also gluten-free and quick to make they match perfectly with the new pizzas. How lovely, thanks Doctor. Look out for these online to make your own:

• Gluten Free Spiralised Vegetable and Feta Salad
• Gluten Free Garlic Bread
• Gluten Free Mozzarella sticks with a Tomato and Herb Dip
• Gluten Free Spinach and Ricotta Tartlets
• Gluten Free Lemon Polenta Cake
• Gluten Free Raspberry Macaron Cake

Overall I would say if you are gluten free or want to have a gluten reduced diet then a Dr Oetker GF pizza would be a safe and tasty bet for you. Even if you pick up one accidentally and are a gluten fan then you really won’t taste the difference. I bet you. Maybe check one out just from curiosity! They are only a bargainous £3.50 so you may as well, hey?

Forked by Stefpuff

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