While nothing beats the OG pizza, let me assure you that the sweet potato pizza concept is NOT to be missed.
The roasted sweet potatoes make a filling, satisfying and delicious base for pizza toppings, and I think you’ll find the addition of bright, herby pesto, shredded chicken and creamy goat cheese to be a winning combo.
Not only does it taste insanely delicious, but it’s filled with gut-friendly and hormone-healthy nutrients, making it a perfect option when you want to indulge but still feel healthy and avoid digestive disturbances (aka bloat, constipation, etc.)
Snag all the details and recipe below.
Want more gut-friendly + recipes to help you boost digestion + heal hormonal imbalances? Check out my go-to guide.
HORMONE BALANCING SWEET POTATO PIZZA INGREDIENTS
+ SWEET POTATO
Sweet potatoes are loaded with gut-friendly prebiotic fiber and liver-detox-supportingvitamin B6, helping your gut to eliminate excess hormones like estrogen (which if not effectively eliminated can lead to estrogen dominance).
+ PISTACHIO
Pistachios are rich in fiber that converts to short-chain fatty acids like butyrate in your gut. This has several benefits including a reduced risk of developing digestive disorders, including intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut) which is a common root cause of hormone imbalance.
+ EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
While there are a ton of health benefits linked to consumption of extra virgin olive oil, the latest research is also showing that due to the high level of polyphenols it may help to balance the bacteria in our digestive tract, slowing the growth of unwanted bacteria. To make sure you’re getting all of its amazing benefits, opt for extra virgin, single origin cold-pressed olive oil, which ensures the oil hasn’t been heated or cut with other lesser quality oils.
SWEET POTATO PIZZA RECIPE SWAPS
+ TO MAKE DAIRY-FREE SWEET POTATO PIZZA
To make this recipe dairy-free, simply leave off the goat cheese (it’ll still have a ton of flavor) or try swapping it for a dairy-free version made of nuts.
+ TO MAKE PALEO SWEET POTATO PIZZA
To make this sweet potato pizza recipe paleo-friendly, you’ll also just need to either leave out or swap the cheese.
+ TO MAKE VEGAN SWEET POTATO PIZZA
If you’re not keen on the chicken, you can leave it out and try adding more chopped nuts and hemp seeds for an additional protein boost.
SWEET POTATO PIZZA HORMONE HEALTH TIPS
+ USE HIGH QUALITY EXTRA VIRGIN COLD-PRESSED OLIVE OIL
As mentioned above, extra virgin olive oil has a TON of health benefits, however many brands available in the US have been extracted using high heat or cut with other inflammatory oils to lessen the production cost, which negates any of it’s anti-inflammatory process. I like this brand.
+ ADD FRESH ARUGULA
Arugula is seriously underrated IMHO, especially when it comes to elevating the taste and hormone-health benefits of this recipe (thanks to it’s sulphur containing compounds that support your liver in detoxification, especially important if you experience pms or heavy, painful periods). I love to toss it with a little bit of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and add it fresh to the cooked pizzas at the end.
+ COOK THE SWEET POTATOES THE NIGHT BEFORE
Not only is this a time-saver, but the process of cooking and cooling sweet potatoes creates something called resistant starch, which helps feed the friendly bacteria in your gut and increases the production of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. I’ll often roast the potatoes earlier that day or the night before to let them cool, then put them back in the oven for 5-10 minutes with the toppings to warm and melt.
1 large organic chicken breast, shredded (I like to purchase a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to save time)
1/4 cup organic, full fat goat cheese
sea salt and pepper to taste
optional toppings like arugula, chopped nuts, red pepper flakes, drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, etc.
Instructions
First, cook your sweet potatoes. Preheat your oven to 400 F and coat halved sweet potato slices with avocado oil. Place them face down on a parchment lined baking pan and poke small holes in the top with a knife (this will allow them to cook faster). Roast for 30-45 minutes (this will vary depending on size and oven) until soft and cooked through.
While sweet potatoes are cooking, cook and shred chicken breast if needed by placing chicken breast in a stove-top pan, covering with an inch of water and bringing to a boil, then reducing to a simmer for about 15 minutes, until the internal temp is 165 F (I like to buy pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from the store to save time).
Next, make your pistachio pesto by adding all ingredients into a food processor and mixing until well-combined.
Toss your shredded chicken with the pesto mixture and set aside.
Once sweet potatoes are done cooking, remove from oven and generously top with the shredded chicken/pesto mixture, sprinkling goat cheese on top. Place back in the oven and roast an additional 5-10 minutes or broil for 2-5 minutes, until chicken is warmed through and goat cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and option to top with more sea salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon, olive oil and fresh arugula.
Notes
*You can cook your sweet potatoes earlier that day or up to three days prior, which will not only save time but create gut-friendly resistant starch, which feeds the good bacteria in your gut microbiome.