Pizza With Cauliflower Crust
In my quest to eat less carbs and still hoping to have some of the same flavors that I love I discovered that you can make pizza with a cauliflower crust. I knew about cauliflower mash (instead of potatoes), and cous cous and rice. This did not start out to be pizza crust, at first I planned on a cauliflower and cheese bake, then thought I would do a roasted cauliflower soup (still too hot out) it then morphed into this pizza crust. Since it was not originally meant to be used for pizza I didn’t follow the directions for making it. They have you grate raw cauliflower and depending what recipe you use steam or dry roast in a skillet. My method may not be entirely orthodox and because of this I had to add a little bit of flour, I used only 1/4 cup of spelt flour along with egg and cheese to bind. The cauliflower was steam roasted first in the oven then covered in grated parm/asiago/romano, drizzled with a little olive oil and roasted again uncovered this time until lightly browned and the cauliflower is soft. Now Cauliflower has a high water content and depending which method you use they have you squeeze out the water with a towel. Because I dry roasted the water pretty much evaporated except for a few drops. I then blitzed it in the food processor mixed in the flour, egg and some taleggio cheese (grated) laid it on a cast iron pizza pan on some parchment (sprayed with cooking spray) and baked at 425 degree’s for about 25 minutes. Before baking I grated a little taleggio on top. When making a cauliflower crust you have to pre bake otherwise you will have a soupy mess.
The pizza turned out great and I love that I have the flavor of pizza without feeling bad about eating it.
Preparing the Cauliflower
1 head cauliflower cut into florets (my cauliflower was medium size)
grated cheese
olive oil
salt and pepper
Heat oven to 375 degree’s. Place the cauliflower on a parchment lined baking sheet and cover with foil, or you can steam it if you like. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. Remove the foil and drizzle with some olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and grated cheese of your choice. I make a blend of parmigiana, romano and asiago. Place back in the oven and roast until it is very tender and lightly browned. Let it cool and place in a sieve or colander over a bowl or plate, cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight. Cauliflower has quite a bit of water and you want to make sure it is pretty dry when you make the pizza dough.
pulsed in processor
Making the dough
makes one 12 inch pizza
2 1/2 cups of cauliflower crumbs (there will probably be leftover cauliflower, I put in a ziplock and froze)
1 egg lightly beaten
1/4 cup spelt flour
1/4 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup grated melting cheese like mozzarella or I used taleggio (Highly recommend taleggio)
Note: If you use all of the cauliflower (more than 2 1/2 cups) you should add an additional egg and a little more spelt flour and when grating either taleggio or fresh mozzarella it should be cold, the cheese is soft and even softer at room tempurature.
Place the cauliflower crumbs in a mixing bowl add the egg, flour and cheeses and form into a cohesive ball. Heat the oven to 425 degree’s and line a baking sheet or pizza pan with parchment, spray lightly with cooking spray. Press the dough onto the parchment into whatever shape you like, square, rectangular or round. Grate some more taleggio or mozzarella on top and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool, after 10 minutes transfer the parchment sheet to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before putting the pizza together.
Top your pizza with whatever you like I topped with roasted tomatoes and zucchini, mozzarella, dollops of pesto and grated cheese. It’s really so good and I didn’t miss the regular pizza crust at all.
apuginthekitchen 
Absolutely MOUTHWATERING, Suzanne! Healthy & delicious. Your crust is perfection. I’m trying it!
Thanks so much Josettle. it’s really good. I am a cauliflower fan anyway but you don’t know it’s made from that when it’s all put together. The crust is a little fragile and not as crisp as a regular pizza but the flavor is out of this world.
This looks great!
Thank you so much.
Wow Suzanne, that looks just over-the-top delicious! I like that you added a little bit of flour to it, I would think all cauliflower would be too mushy.
Yes, because I didn’t squeeze water out I felt that adding the flour was important plus it give it a more dough like consistency. I only used a little but it made a difference and I love spelt so I thought it added additional flavor. Thank you so much Kathryn.
Nice Suzanne-glad you have been experimenting with great results-Woo-Hoo-proud of you! xo
Thank you, this really was delicious. I liked it as much as regular pizza. Thanks Cheryl.
I know I’d love it!!! xo
Hi Suzanne, I will try to make the crust soon . What a great substitute for we who are carb challenged . I use spelt flour all the time, it is a great substitute for white regular flour. I’m looking forward to coming to New York on Thursday .
Yes this cauliflower crust is delicious. I loved it. After eating it I didn’t have that heavy feeling like you do when you eat pizza. Thanks and look forward to seeing you soon.
Oh-I forgot too mention I have a cool recipe for hash brown pizza-I just never posted it on any of my blogs-its on http://www.tastykitchen.com/ I’m sure. Since my gang is not overly fond of cauliflower (I knew about the cauliflower crust from a friend-blogger) one must adapt-right???!!! I think I personally would adore it because I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee cauliflower. That’s all folks…xxooxoxo
Ohhhhh that sounds good. I love hash browns, I could see myself making it for breakfast as well. YUM!!
It is made thin like the cauliflower crust too-yes I have made it with buffalo chicken/cheese and a breakfast version-it is fun! xoxoxo
Ohh love the idea of this! Thanks for sharing xx
Thanks so much Linda!
PIZZA…with the works!!! 🍕🍕🍕
I love pizza and was mourning not being able to eat it and thought well this will do and it certainly did!! Thank you so much.
Mmm, this looks delicious! Today I read a recipe that adds almond flour, I don´t imagine how that can work. I think I like yours better! Have a great healthy-eating week!
Thanks Viviana, hmmmm almond flour, well like you I don’t see how it could work but you never know. This really worked great and tasted wonderful.
What a gorgeous pizza! And guilt-free too? What a bonus! Looks great!
Thanks Dave, yes it’s so light you don’t have that heavy feeling after eating it. Thanks so much,
Suzanne, your kitchen creativity never ceases to astound me! I love cauliflower (even though I didn’t experience it until I was over 40). I would be first in line for this pizza. Mega hugs!
Thanks Teagan, I would have to do a little kitchen magic since I couldn’t use egg, LOL!!
I tried cauliflower pizza at a friend’s house and have to admit it didn’t make me a fan. Now that I see your version, with a bit of flour, I think that maybe that’s what it was missing. I’ll give it a try.. 🙂
The crust is delicious Ronit, adding the little bit of spelt flour and roasting the cauliflower with some cheese before processing gave it a wonderful flavor. Thank you so much.
I still have yet to try a cauliflower crust! I’ll have to give it a try 😉
I had never had it before Susan, Love it!! Thank you so much.
Looks like your “pizza Crust” turned out perfectly Suzanne, I bet this was delicious!
Thank you so much Cheri, it was really good.
This sure looks great Suzanne! I have always wanted to try a crust like this one! yumm I will give it a try!
Thanks Lynn, me neither and it’s very good. Highly recommend.
yummm
This looks awesome Suzanne! I have been hearing about the cauliflower crust for a long time, but I have never tried… shame on me! Your “pizza” looks very good….
Thanks Margherita, it turned out really well and I felt like I was eating a pizza.
I love this idea. You created a healthier pizza that looks delicious. As a vegetarian I appreciate when people create new and interesting recipes.
Thank you so much, it’s a great alternative to a regular pizza.
Can feel that crunch of that crust. A wonderful work!! absolute healthy treat Suzanne.
Thanks so much Sumith, it was delicious.
That looks amazing – I am sooo going to try this!
Thank you so much. Let me know if you try.
Is there a copy of the recipe that doesn’t have photos between the text? I find it hard to copy. I like to copy it to word for when I want to use it-thx!
I can send to you. I use Evernote you can keep all your recipes with photo’s. Will send you an email with the recipe
Thanks! Yeah, I just find it hard to copy around the photos. I appreciate it!
Wow!!! I’m absolutely book marking this recipe…great gluten free base!!!
Thank you, it has a little gluten from the spelt flour but very little.
This looks great and I am sure it was delicious. I love roasted cauliflower and will have to try this some time.
PS I notice you add a lot of cheese, which is of course very tasty, but if you use too much it may end up worse than the carbs you were reducing.
Thanks so much Stefan, well yes there is quite a bit of cheese but I only had one slice and the pizza made 6 good size slices so the amount of carbs/fat from the cheese was negligible I think. I am trying to eliminate sugar, white flour, rice and pasta for the time being. The cheese has carbs for sure.
With cheese the problem is the fat and calories, not the carbs (of which it has little). What I was trying to say is that cutting carbs won’t work if you replace it with fat.
I agree which is why I only had one portion. Controlling the amount one consumes is so important and you are right I have to take fat content into consideration. Thanks so much Stefan.
I’m always looking for things like this, I eat so much trying to keep up a food blog. I’m definitely going to give this a go ☺
I know exactly what you mean, running a food blog can be dangerous and I was overeating. Thank you so much.
I love it when you (or I) plan to cook something and it morphs into something else. Surprise!! 🙂 hehe…
Anyway, it had never ever occurred to me to make any crust out of cauliflower, great job. And it contains cheese, it must be heavenly! xx
The crust is so good I could eat it on it’s own. I love cauliflower and cheese so it was a win win for me. Thanks so much.
That is pretty darn creative! Cauliflower for crust is something I have never tried before. Generally, I don’t like the smell of steamed cauliflower (used to mush it up to feed my kids when they started on solids) but I might change my mind with this!:)
Yes cauliflower doesn’t smell good when steaming, because I did it in the oven I didn’t have that strong smell and the crust turned out great. Thank you so much Ann.
🙂 🙂 🙂
It looks and sounds good to me! 😉
It was really good Elaine, thank you so much.
😀😀
😘😘😘😘
I hope you’re feeling good xx
Thanks Elaine, I really am. I don’t feel deprived because this is not a diet. I eat well with certain parameters. I feel really well thank you.
This looks absolutely delicious Suzanne! I’ve always been a little skeptical whenever I see recipes for cauliflower crust pizza but now you’ve got me thinking I should give it a try!
In reading the recipes online for a cauliflower pizza crust I too was skeptical. I felt that a little bit of flour would help bind. The cauliflower on it’s own is not cohesive at all the eggs help as does the cheese but flour really helps it along. I was able to move the crust from the sheet pan to a cooling rack without breaking it and I was so glad that it worked. Thank you so much Heather.
Hi Suzanne ♥ I hope you are having a lovely morning. The crust of this pizza has captivated me! Pinned! It looks wonderful ♥
summerdaisy.cottage.blogspot.com
Hi Summer, thank you so much. It’s a terrific crust and if you try I hope you like. Thanks again.
It looks like it has a delicious crunch! Love those flavors for this Summer/Fall transition.
Thanks Mary Frances actually it’s not crunchy for the most part the edge is but the middle is on the softer side but it is still delicious. Thank you so much😃
I would never have known that was a cauliflower crust just from the pics.
Thanks Sarah, it doesn’t taste like cauliflower either, the cheese, spelt and roasting the cauliflower makes it taste different.
Very interesting. Looks delicious!
Thank you Michelle I thought the concept was very interesting and I love how light it is.
LOVE this! Looks great! I make this every so often. Also, cauliflower fried rice. So tasty!
Oh fried rice with cauliflower, that sounds delicious, will look on your blog and hopefully find the recipe.
I never posted it, but I can send it to you if you’d like!
Would love it thank you.
All right, fully convinced now, I *have* to try cauliflower crust!
Thank you so much, it’s really good. Made it again today special request from a friend who was my guinea pig yesterday.
I think this is the best looking cauliflower crust I’ve ever seen, and I’m sure that the little bit of cheese you used really amped up the flavor!
Thanks Julie, it’s a really nice crust. Best eaten right away as the crust tends to get soggy but I actually like it almost as much as a crust made with flour and yeast.
Awesome creation – and the pizza looks awesome. I’m too lazy, but you have inspired me to cook my cauliflower in the frig. 🙂
Thank you so much Debra. It’s delicous.
I think I could easily diet if someone fixed me pretty food. LOL
I have been thinking about trying something like this forever! I’m inspired even more, now! 🙂
Thanks Mollie, it’s delicous and although I did it differently than most recipes it turned out great.
This looks freaken delicious! I’ve been wanting to try this crust for quite a while. It seems like it’s simple to make!
It is simple. There are a few steps but it really produces a very tasty crust. Thanks so much.
Love this classy take on a pizza. I have FINALLY got misses 8 and 10 loving cauli so will have to try this.
Thank you so much for that, classy, I love that. It’s a great crust, light, and very tasty.
I’ve been so skittish to try a cauliflower crust (too many horror stories floating around)… but after reading through your recipe and seeing your results, I think I’m finally ready. It looks perfect, Suzanne!
I was nervous especially since the cauliflower crust was an after thought but it worked out really well. Thanks so much Nancy.
Great minds think alike 🙂 I just made my own cauliflower crust pizza. Yours looks AMAZING 🙂
Oh Sarah how cool are you posting the recipe😃😃😃
Your version of cauliflower crust is lovely. I tend to squeeze and squeeze that water content out, till I wear through the drying cloth !!! Perfect, will be doing it your way next 🙂
Hi Lynne; Even though the method is a bit different it worked and there really was no water to squeeze. I have problems squeezing anyway, I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both hands and a finger that doesn’t work so this worked just great for me.
Always wondered what this would be like. Thanks for trying it out 🙂
Thank you so much, I loved it but then I am a cauliflower fan. Thanks so much!
Beautiful pizza Suzanne! You would never know it is diet friendly 😀
Thanks Antonia, although it’s not low in fat it is free of white flour and lower in carbs than a regular pizza.
I’ve heard about that cauliflower crust, but I’ve never tried it yet, looks yum! I love your site and your dogs, so cute<3
Thank you so much Natalia!!
My sister tried making a Cauli crust pizza before, and seemed to like it, I might have to give it a go. Slightly worried about the amount of cheese though, I wonder if there is another binding agent that could be used to reduce the cheese?
Hi Matt, I wasn’t worried about the amount of cheese because I only ate one slice and when divided into 6 slices I felt the amount of cheese was negligible but you can reduce the cheese, just make sure the cauliflower is free of liquid. You can also use part skim mozzarella which will reduce the fat. The taleggio I used of course is full fat as was the mozzarella and grating cheeses. I think that even with less cheese it will bind nicely as the flour also acts to bind. Hope that helps a little.
Great ideas! thanks!
The cheese really adds to the flavor of the crust. Grating just a minute amount of taleggio before baking really added flavor as well. I think even reducing the amount a little will still be delicious.
Yes, great idea, using cauliflower for pizza crust ! and a little flour.
Thank you very much, dear Suzanne – that’s good for health and beautiful to look at –
Do have a wonderful week-end, both of you – amitiés et bises – france
Thanks so much France, juste un peu de farine, merci mon ami!!
Waw, you nailed the cauliflower splet pizza crust! On my list to make this week! Waw! Amazing skills, a fantastic tasty recipe & I also love the used yummy toppings! xxx
Thanks Sophie, I love the crust, it’s not crisp like a brick oven pizza but nonetheless delicious.
Oh my god, cauliflower as pizza crust? You are making my carb-free diet so much easier! Will definitely have to try this out, this looks too good!
Thanks so much Jasline, it’s not bread but a delicious pizza crust, I really love how it tastes. Thanks again.
You are so inventive Suzanne! This will keep a lot of people eating pizza– it really does look healthy and delicious at the same time. — and I’m waiting for the cauliflower soup recipe when things cook down! Happy week ahead Blog-Buddy! xo
I wish I could buy a cauliflower crust already prepared. It seems like such a great idea but also quite a bit of work. Beautiful looking pizza Suzanne. Once again, I wish you were my neighbour!!!
omg delish!
This looks yummy and healthy. I have to try it!
Thank you so much Bel, it really is delicious.