For two years I’ve been meaning to try this trendy pizza and now I’ve finally done it! If you haven’t heard, pizza is my favorite food (yes, likely my all time favorite. I know, I’m so refined, right?). We have pizza every week at my house. It’s just hard to beat all those irresistible layers and all the melted cheesy goodness, isn’t it? Plus pizza is incredibly versatile. Yes, I do need to broaden my horizons a bit more and try things like this thai pizza, this jalapeño popper pizza and this tempting Moroccan Spiced Scalloped Potato Pizza. I will someday get to those. But for now at least I’ve marked the cauliflower crust pizza off my list.
I’ve had mixed feelings about wanting to try this crust because I’ve loved the traditional crust too much to step away from it. While the soft and chewy, white flour pizza crust will likely never be replaced for me, this pizza crust definitely is a great one to add to the rotation. It’s healthier, it has less carbs, and if you are on a gluten-free diet this has naturally made that list. This crust does remind me more of a thin crust pizza, not in that it’s crisp but that it’s just that, a fairly thin crust. It does however have a wonderful texture and a simple flavor that doesn’t overpower the pizza which leaves room for the flavor of the toppings to shine.
The best part of this pizza though I’d say, it requires no mixer, no kneading dough, no rise – therefor no long waiting period. This pizza can be made in about 30 minutes! You can’t really beat that.
If you haven’t tried the cauliflower pizza crust yet, definitely give it a try. You might just fall in love. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower (about 1 lb 12 oz)
- 1/4 cup finely shredded parmesan (1 oz)
- 1/4 cup finely shredded mozzarella (1 oz)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Topping:
- 1/2 cup homemade or store-bought pizza sauce, or more or less to taste
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Desired toppings, such as fresh grape tomatoes, basil, oregano, olives, mushrooms etc.
Directions
- Place a pizza stone in oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a large piece of parchment paper with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
- Wash cauliflower, cut off florets, dry thoroughly and add half of the cauliflower to food processor and process until finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Transfer chopped cauliflower to a microwave safe bowl. Add remaining cauliflower to food processor and again, process until finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add that cauliflower to bowl with other cauliflower (you should now have about 2 1/2 - 3 cups finely chopped cauliflower). Cover bowl with microwave safe plastic wrap and heat cauliflower in microwave 4 minutes on HIGH power. Pour cooked cauliflower onto a clean tea towel and allow to cool. Once cauliflower is cool enough to handle, wrap cauliflower in tea towel and wring moisture from cauliflower (about 1/3 cup or so).
- Return strained cauliflower to bowl, add parmesan and mozzarella cheese, salt, egg, and garlic and toss mixture with your hands until evenly combined.
- Pat mixture into an even round, about 11 to 12-inches, on prepared parchment paper (keeping it snuggly pressed together). Using a pizza peel, transfer crust on parchment to pizza stone in oven and bake 9 - 11 minutes, until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and top with pizza sauce, mozzarella and desired toppings (if using fresh herbs, add them after cooking pizza). Return to oven and bake 5 - 7 minutes longer until cheese has melted and is slightly golden. Allow to cool several minutes then cut into wedges. Serve warm.
- Recipe Source: adapted from The Lucky Penny Blog
Laura (Tutti Dolci): I have yet to try a cauliflower crust but now I want to – this is pizza perfection! April 23, 2014 at 9:15am
Matt Robinson: I love this pizza! The cauliflower crust is my new favorite and it looks like you nailed it with this one. April 23, 2014 at 9:25am
Sammi @Sammi Sunshine: You convinced me! I’m going to try it! I’ve seen this, but have always questioned cauliflower as pizza crust… Time to take the plunge!
Peace & Sunshine,
Sammi at Sammi Sunshine- A Food Blog April 23, 2014 at 10:43am
Chrystin @ A Mate & a Rottweiler: I was just mentioning cauliflower pizza crust to my husband last night at the supermarket and saying how we should try it. Now I have a recipe! I’ve already made a handful of your other recipes, so I know this one will be excellent as well!
Kisses from Buenos Aires xx April 23, 2014 at 1:48pm
Liz@Virtually Homemade: I’ve been dying to try this recipe. Thanks! April 23, 2014 at 2:04pm
Jess: Your pizza looks so perfect! April 23, 2014 at 2:30pm
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen: Beautiful, Jaclyn! I’ve been enjoying cauliflower pizza crust for just about 15 years now. It was a huge breakthrough recipe for low carb pizza lovers on all the online forums. It’s nice to see that it has hit mainstream for others to try, like the GF crowd. Stunning styling and photography as always! Thanks for sharing. Pinning (of course)! April 23, 2014 at 3:20pm
Jaclyn: Thanks so much Stacy! April 23, 2014 at 5:10pm
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent: Love the idea of this crust! I’m definitely going to have to put it on the list of recipes to try. Thanks for sharing. April 23, 2014 at 5:59pm
Kristi C.: I can’t wait to try this recipe – thanks for posting! I’m wondering, though, how crispy the crust actually gets? I love pizza and I love cauliflower … this could be a match made in heaven for me! April 23, 2014 at 9:13pm
Jaclyn: It doesn’t really get crispy more just chewy-ish. Just be sure to squeeze out a lot of the moisture. May 6, 2014 at 6:28pm
Megan: I will make this over the weekend! Thanks! Pizza is #1 for me, too, so this sounds perfect! April 24, 2014 at 2:58pm
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche: This looks awesome, I keep meaning to make one of these! Your toppings look amazing too, soooo cheesy! And I love roasted cherry tomatoes :) May 2, 2014 at 1:18pm
Kristina: Quick question, Do you have to use a pizza stone to cook the crust or will a regular baking sheet work? Thanks! I really want to try this :) May 3, 2014 at 8:38pm
Jaclyn: A regular baking sheet would work too, just preheat it first. May 4, 2014 at 10:24am
Kristina: Great thank you!! :) May 4, 2014 at 5:06pm
Crandell: Thank you! June 30, 2014 at 4:54pm
Wendy: Very tasty! My new favorite gf food. Thank you thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!! August 2, 2014 at 10:14am
Jaclyn: Yay! I’m so glad you liked it Wendy :)! August 25, 2014 at 10:02am
Tails: Do you move the pizza crust from the parchment to the stone or do you leave it on the parchment and put the parchment on the stone? August 14, 2014 at 2:59am
Jaclyn: I leave it on the parchment paper and put it on the stone. I always just prevents it from sticking to the stone. August 14, 2014 at 9:31am
Tails: Thanks, that’s what I thought, just wanted to make sure :) August 16, 2014 at 1:35am
Apple Pie at Sisterswives.com: Holy cow – this looks awesome. I can’t wait to try it. Pizza is always a weakness and this looks so good. Thanks for sharing! January 4, 2015 at 2:59pm
Maria: This looks delicious. What are the options if you don’t have a microwave??? we got rid of ours.
Thanks
Maria February 26, 2015 at 4:49am
Jaclyn: I’d imagine a steamer basket set in a pot with a tiny bit of water would be the next best option. March 19, 2015 at 10:04pm
Kroopa: Is there a substitute for the egg if I don’t eat eggs? What else can I use instead? April 15, 2015 at 4:06pm
Jaclyn: There’s this recipe here that’s similar that uses no egg: http://mommyhoodsdiary.com/cauliflower-pizza-crust-egg-free/ Looks like flax would probably be the sub. April 15, 2015 at 9:38pm
felicia | Dish by Dish: Hi Jaclyn!
Chanced upon this cauliflower pizza crust recipe and would love to include it in a cauliflower roundup for Parade Magazine!
If you’re ok with it, can I use one of your photos with a link back to your original post (http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/04/cauliflower-pizza-crust-gf/)?
Thanks dear!
Felicia October 6, 2015 at 8:40am
Jaclyn: Hi Felicia! Thant would be great! Thanks so much for including me! October 7, 2015 at 9:15am
Roberta: This crust looks so good! I am sharing this on Pinterest. January 31, 2016 at 8:38pm
Iva: Any ideas how to skip the use of microwave? Steaming would add water to the cauliflower which is not desirable, I would assume? August 24, 2016 at 8:49am