Cauliflower in a pizza crust? I know… it sounds crazy, right? Before you dismiss the idea, consider the possibility that it might just be so crazy that it works! That’s the assumption I was working on when I decided to give this cauliflower pizza crust a try.
Since No. 2 Son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few years ago, pizza has been a rarity around here. It’s one of the biggest sacrifices we’ve had to make with regard to this disease. (That and homemade cinnamon rolls! *sob*)
Which brings me to today’s post. I spotted this recipe some time ago, and while I was intrigued, I’ll admit that I wasn’t convinced it would be successful. I’ve never been happier to admit I was WRONG! Not only was it delicious, but it was also surprisingly pizza-like! Go figure. The much-maligned “stinky” vegetable…turned tasty, gluten-free pizza! It’s a happy day in our house. :-)
And did I mention how SIMPLE it is to make?? Major bonus there! Here’s how to make it:
Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Makes one 9″ pizza crust
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower (see below)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Ricing and cooking the cauliflower:
Start by ricing and cooking a head of cauliflower. Remove the stems and leaves, and chop the cauliflower into chunks. Place the chunks in your food processor or blender and pulse until it looks like grain. (Do not overdo it on the pulsing or you’ll accidentally puree it!) If you don’t have a food processor or blender, a cheese grater would work just as well. Or, you can now buy riced cauliflower in the produce section of your grocery store.
Place the “riced” cauliflower into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 5 minutes or so. No need to add any extra water.
One large head will produce between 2 and 3 cups of riced and cooked cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Making the pizza crust:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray (or line a baking sheet with a non-stick silicone baking mat, which is what I did.)
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together 1 cup of your riced and cooked cauliflower, the beaten egg, and the mozzarella. Add oregano, minced garlic, and salt, and mix well.
Transfer the mixture to your cookie sheet, and pat out into a 9″ round. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. This helps to make the crust more solid.
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Now you’re ready to make your pizza! To your finished and cooled cauliflower crust, add sauce, cheese, and your toppings of choice.
Place your pizza under a broiler at high heat just until the cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes.)
Note: You’ll need to precook some kinds of toppings since you are only broiling the pizza for a few minutes. I quickly sautéed some mushrooms and green peppers for mine.
The crust turned out so good, that I’m still somewhat stunned! It had a great consistency (I could pick it up with my fingers and eat it just like a regular slice of pizza!) and the flavors were delicious. Hard to beat cheese and garlic in ANY form. :-)
So if you are looking for a low-carb and/or gluten-free alternative for pizza crust, or if you just want to try a new tasty variation on traditional pizza, pick up some cauliflower next time you’re in the produce section and take the challenge!
Our youngest daughter suggested this one day and I thought; “Gross! Cauliflower pizza? Yuck”! However, curiosity got the best of us and we tried it. OMG!!! It was delicious and Filling! Regular dough pizzas are good but, this version is so healthy and like I said, Filling! I HIGHLY recommend this.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you use a pizza stone instead of the baking pan?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sure!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.is there a substitution for the cheese in the crust recipe?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You could use a different cheese, or a vegan cheese substitute!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you. Does vegan cheese still taste like cheese? I don’t like ANY cheese.
Maybe try silken tofu if you’re trying to get away from cheese altogether. :-)
I have tried this before because pizza is my weakness when I go low carb. I have made 3 pizzas out of a large head (plain, pepperoni & white), cooked them & then froze the 2 remaining. I have also done it square instead of round & cut it to make pizza sticks (great for dipping). I too was surprised at how much it tasted just like pizza. I recommend everyone to try this recipe.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Did they freeze well?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t own a microwave! Any suggestions for cooking the cauliflower?
i.e. If I put it in the oven how do I know when its done?
I’m guessing I’m not the only person reading One Good Thing by Jillee, that has opted out of microwaves…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can find stove-top and oven directions here: http://jillee.co/2bynqqe :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Would this work with zucchini??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can make a pizza crust with zucchini, but not with this exact recipe, since zucchini has a lot more water content than cauliflower. I would try this recipe for zucchini – it looks delicious! :-) http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/09/best-zucchini-recipe-ever-zucchini-crust-pizza/
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh, dear! I just used your “printer friendly” button, then hit “Print” when the box popped up, and I have several pages of computer gobble sitting on my printer. You may want to check into that!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Lisa! After hitting “printer friendly,” but before hitting “print,” check the box that says “remove images.” This will give you a short, simple printable with no gobble! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, Jillee! is looks delicious, and I can’t wait to try it! We’ve been doing a semi-paleo diet at my house, so this will fit in well! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This sounds wonderful, I can’t wait to try it. Thank you!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just an FYI. If you purchased pre-shredded cheese check the labels. I don’t believe they are gluten free. They are coated so the cheese doesn’t stick together. That’s the advice my niece who has Celiac gave me. Better off shredding your own. Tastes better too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, Jillee — this sounds tasty and do-able! I have wanted to try something like this, but have never felt like it was worth the trouble. I’ve got some cauliflower, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni in the fridge calling my name!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Cauliflower pizza is part of the banting lifestyle. Perhaps look for banting recipes to see if you can find some recipes that will help your son. The banting lifestyle is very big here in South Africa.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.No longer cook due to multiple scelorisis.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Enjoy reading about finds which life is enjoyed. Thank you for sharing.
Is there a substitute for the cheese in this recipe?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.#1. Bev does not understand food as Cheese & eggs are protein. Maybe Bev has some food intolerances or allergies and can’t eat them? Too bad.
#2. Has anyone made the garbanzo bean pizza crust?. As beans are very good for you I would love to try it. I am making the cauliflower one now.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, Celiac Disease is a real challenge but don’t give up homemade cinnamon rolls! You can find hundreds of gluten free recipes on the internet! I’ve made several and some of them are delicious! I recommend Nicole Hunn at GF on a Shoestring blog for great gluten free recipes! Can’t wait to try your cauliflower recipe! Thanks for sharing! Happy cinnamon roll hunting!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you, Lyn!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Because of my language barrier, I was not completely sure that I understood the base ingredient in a delicious pizza crust looking snack we ate while in Piza Italy. It looked much like your crust, but I did understand it was not bread, but bean! After getting on the train back to Florence, with our group huddled around our yumminess, a fellow passenger explained it was garbanzo beans…..and that made sense. SO, if you’ve gotten brave enough to try the cauliflower, maybe this could be next for a higher protein version!? I’m going to try it myself !
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not healthy at all! You just turned a very healthy cauliflower into unhealthy pizza! Chesse & eggs then cheese on top !!!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Healthy option !
Please log in or create a free account to comment.http://nutritionstripped.com/cauliflower-pizza-crust/
Thank you for your comment to Bev’s needless sarcasm and disrespect. If a person doesn’t agree with something, be kind about it. Blessings.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think Bev is trying to eat fat-free. She hasn’t heard that animal fats are healthy and high fat low carb is a healthy way to eat. To each his own … way of eating healthy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Looking at a gluten-free or paleo diet, this is an extremely healthy choice. Nutrition “standards” are not always right, and have changed so many times over the past decades, you may not be up to date. Proteins, good fats and egg yolks are no longer the demons.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillie, with your homemade raisins, how do you store them? Just in an airtight container and on in the pantry or in the refrigerator?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks!
Can’t wait to eat them. Not on the no sugar, low carb!
Airtight container in the pantry! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much! I love cauliflower crust pizza and so many recipes that I have tried don’t look as flavorful as this one. I eat low carb and have celiac disease, so this looks like it needs to be on my dinner table tonight! Does it seem to get crispy, Jillee?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s soft, but has a crisp outside!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How in the world can you print this without all the pictures! I just the recipe printed.
Thanks,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Barb
Click on the green “Print Friendly” button near the bottom, just above the comments. Then at the top is a check box for leaving out the images.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Click “printer friendly” (green button towards the bottom of the post), and then check the box that says “remove images.” Then click “print.” :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This sounds great but I’m lactose intolerant and cheese is not so great for me. Any ideas?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You could try using non-dairy cheese instead like “Daiya” or some other brand. I’m sure the consistency might change a tad and you might need to adjust the seasoning but it might be worth a try?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Some stores sell lactose-free cheese or you can try using goat cheese.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Daiya cheese works great for me.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You should not be allergic to your foods, may be the cully flower that’s affecting you is GM produce, I will suggest you take some high quality supplements to bring you health back to balance. Also you can wash you veg by using apple cider vinegar or tea spoon distilled vinegar lemon in water to remove pesticide. Thanks to Monsanto who is messing up our foods and the food industry . You must do your bit to care for your health . Organic foods are overrated .because the soil is still depleted of Nutrients . Today the majority of people are affected with gluten intolerance that leads to leaky gut and ceiliac disease . All those are new diseases, give the cully flour pizza a try it’s not on its own it has other ingredients that are beneficial, you could add some non GM corn flour to the mix .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Some good ideas here, Amoy, especially about eating clean non-GM veggies. But I wanted to say that the order might be reversed — allergies might not cause leaky gut and celiac. I’m convinced (obviously I have no proof) that my constant childhood stress caused my leaky gut, which caused my food allergies to develop. I’m allergic to wheat (not just gluten), corn, and most other grains, along with several other foods.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Leaky gut is caused by a disrupted gut microbiome (caused by antibiotics, vaccines, smoking, stress, alcohol, glyphosate, etc. When you bring back the good gut bacteria/micro biota, your leaky gut will patch itself up again. Remedy: a variety of fermented foods every day, prebiotics/probiotics, raw vegetables, fruits (what nature intended for us from her kitchen). The gut lining is replaced every 3 or for days.
I’ve seen the using cauliflower ideas before , but have been hesitant to try them because of the gasiness factor. Usually if it’s baked or steamed for awhile it makes it easier to digest. This may be an option to try for some of our family’s g free members.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am so glad to hear from someone who actually tried this! Not a cauliflower fan on the best day, I’ve turned my nose up. Having had a roux-en-y gastric bypass, however, carbs are not my friends! I, too, am worried about flatulence, though, so I hope you’ll address that question! Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve never had any issues! The whole crust is only 1 cup of cauliflower, and you usually don’t eat the whole thing yourself. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.WOW!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sounds amazing and perfect for my pizza cravings as a diabetic. However, I don’t use or even have a microwave, so how can I cook the riced cauliflower?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.On the stove in a covered sauce pan on med heat stir occasionally for 10-15 mins. Keep lid on to steam between stirrings.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can find stove-top and oven directions here: http://jillee.co/2bynqqe :-)
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