I’m not gonna lie, I had no idea how incredibly versatile cauliflower can be. Let me tell you, using it to replace bread in pizza was a real game changer for me, especially as we began to seek out new recipes as we transformed to a healthy diet.
Now, there are pre-made cauliflower crusts you can use to save time. I haven’t tried them yet and will let you know what I think when I do try them out. But, if you do use them, be sure to check the ingredients because the food industry loves to slip sugars, preservatives and chemicals in what they brand as healthy alternatives.
I find preparing and cooking the food yourself is the best way to really know what’s in it. So, this recipe will show you how to do exactly that. There are some carbs from the eggs and cheeses – but using healthy cheese will ensure you don’t spike your blood sugar. Beyond that, the toppings you add plus the uber-healthy cauliflower will ensure you have a delicious and diabetic-friendly meal. So, let’s dive in!
Low-Carb Cauliflower-Crust Pizza
Ingredients:
Serves four with some leftovers.
Cauliflower Crust Ingredients:
- 1 medium sized cauliflower
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup of grated gouda, mozzarella or crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 cloves of fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
You will also need paper towels or cheese cloth.
Toppings Ingredients:
You can use any toppings you like. Below is my preference, which excludes tomato sauce. Most tomato sauces have a lot of added sugar (on top of the natural sugars in tomatoes.) So, you can be the best judge of whether or not to add a sauce.
- 1 pound of ground turkey or chicken OR cubed chicken OR meat substitute
- 1 clove of fresh garlic
- 1 medium-sized green bell pepper
- 1 medium-sized red bell pepper
- 2 jalapenos or 2 habanero peppers (if you don’t like spicy, you can leave this out)
- 1 large onion
- 1 large tomato
- 2 cups of fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup of grated gouda, mozzarella or crumbled feta cheese
Instructions to Prepare the Crust:
Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.
Step One: Lightly beat the egg in a small bowl and set it aside. (You want it at room temperature when you use it.)
Step Two: Grate the cheese and set it aside.
Step Three: Grease a pizza pan (or cookie sheet) with the olive oil and set it aside.
Step Four: Chop the cauliflower into small pieces and then boil it until soft.
Step Five: Place the boiled cauliflower into either a food processor or a blender and blend/chop them until it is very finely chopped.
Step Six: Place the finely chopped cauliflower on either paper towels or cheese cloth and squeeze out as much water as you possibly can.
Step Seven: Place the drained cauliflower in a bowl and add the egg and cheese, then mix thoroughly.
Step Eight: Finely chop the two garlic cloves and add them, along with the oregano and thyme to the mixture. (You can also include some of the jalapeños or habaneros into the mix if you like a spicy crust).
Step Nine: Spread the cauliflower on the pizza pan and shape however you like (round, square, rectangle, whatever best fits your pan.
Step Ten: Bake the cauliflower crust in the oven for 30 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Instructions to Prepare the Pizza:
Step One: Chop one onion as well as both bell peppers and set them aside.
Step Two: Dice the remaining fresh garlic clove and set it aside.
Step Three: In a skillet, pre-cook the ground turkey/chicken, cubed chicken or meat substitute just enough to brown the meat and set it aside.
Step Four: Slice the tomatoes and grate the cheese to be used as a topping.
Step Five: Remove the crust from the oven and add the toppings as you see fit. If you are using a tomato sauce, add it first. If not, you can simply add each topping (chopped/sliced vegetables, spinach and meat). Be sure to spread them evenly across the entire crust. (Save the cheese until the last step).
Step Six: Bring the heat in the oven down to 350 and place the pizza in the oven to cook for another 30 minutes.
Step Seven: Remove the pizza and ensure the meat is fully cooked. Then, sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top of the pizza and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.
Slice your pizza and enjoy!
I do recommend including a salad when you serve the delicious pizza. You won’t believe the taste! Let me know how it worked out for you and if you have any tips to add.
