High Protein Pizza Bites

3 Servings

Most people have heard of sweet energy balls, but have you ever tried a savoury one?

These high protein pizza bites are a perfect low-calorie snack, or they can be paired with any legume pasta to boost the protein content.

For those people who don’t like mushrooms and tofu, the mushrooms and tofu in this recipe are blended so the pizza bites have an umami taste without knowing that they are in there.

Ingredients

For the Pizza Bites:

1 cup cooked chickpeas (165g)

1/2 block firm tofu (140g), crumbled

1/4 cup oat flour (30g) (or grind rolled oats into flour)

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

1/4 cup unsweetened tomato paste (60g)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

salt to taste (optional)

1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper (40g)

1/4 cup finely diced mushrooms (about 3 chestnut mushrooms) (40g)

2 tablespoons finely chopped black olives (optional)

5 pickled jalepenos finely diced

For the Marinara Dipping Sauce:

400 grams of the best quality tinned tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Pinch of red pepper flakes and salt to taste (optional)

Method:

Preheat the Oven

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Prepare the Pizza Base Mixture

1. In a food processor, combine chickpeas, crumbled tofu, mushrooms, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, oregano, basil, thyme, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt (if using). Blend until a thick, smooth dough forms.

2. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the diced bell pepper, jalapenos, and olives (if using). Mix well.

Shape Pizza Bites

• Scoop out small portions (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and roll into bite-sized balls or flatten slightly into mini patties. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.

  
  

Bake the Pizza Bites

• Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and firm to the touch.

Make the Mariana Dipping Sauce

1. While the bites are baking, combine tomato sauce, oregano, garlic powder, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan.

2. Heat over low-medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warm and fragrant.

Serve

• Serve the pizza bites warm with the marinara dipping sauce on the side.

Notes:

• For extra flavour, sprinkle a bit of nutritional yeast on top before baking.

• These bites can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for a longer shelf life. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for the best texture.

Nutritional info: Per 4 pizza bites with 2 tablespoons of the sauce: (recipe makes 3 servings): 249 calories, 25.2 grams of carbs, 7.7 grams of fat, 16 grams of protein

Enjoy these protein-packed, pizza-flavoured bites as a snack or appetiser!