The cauliflower crust pizza recipe you've been looking for! A crispy-chewy crust topped with fresh, vibrant veggies with a vegan pesto drizzle. No one will be able to stop at just one slice.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Cauliflower Pizza Recipe
Gluten-Free Crust- This cauliflower pizza crust recipe is made with cauliflower rice and a few simple ingredients to bind it together. It's also low-carb and has the same crunchy texture as regular pizza crust.
Colorful Fresh Veggies- Toppings like tomatoes, fresh basil, broccoli, and mixed greens provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Absolutely Delicious- The combination of the crunchy crust, colorful veggies, and vegan pesto drizzle make for an absolutely delicious pizza experience.
What Is Cauliflower Crust Pizza?
Cauliflower crust pizza is a creative way to have healthier pizza. It's made with riced cauliflower, eggs, and seasonings like salt, pepper, oregano, and fresh basil. The cauliflower pizza crust recipe is gaining popularity due to its low-carb and gluten-free nature and crunchy texture, similar to traditional pizza crust. This cauliflower pizza crust is topped with colorful fresh veggies for added nutrition and vegan pesto drizzle for a delicious finishing touch.
Equipment
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Oven
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Baking Sheet or Pizza Stone
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Parchment Paper
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Sharp Knife
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Cutting Board
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Food Processor
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Large Bowl
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Large Spoon
Ingredients
For the Cauliflower Pizza Crust
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Head of Fresh Cauliflower- The main ingredient in this pizza crust provides a delicious, crispy, yet chewy texture.
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Almond Flour- Combined with riced cauliflower to create the pizza crust.
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Adds flavor to the crust and helps it crisp up in the oven.
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Organic Eggs- Acts as a binder to hold the dough ingredients together.
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Sea Salt- Brings out the flavors of all of the other ingredients.
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Dried Basil- Adds a sweet, aromatic flavor to the pizza crust.
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Dried Oregano- Gives the cauliflower crust that Italian-inspired flavor.
For the Cauliflower Pizza Toppings
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Tomato Sauce- This is the base of your pizza toppings. Add some extra flavor to the tomato sauce with Italian seasoning and garlic salt.
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Fresh Mixed Greens- You want greens that provide a nice crunchy bite. Arugula, chard, or kale are awesome choices.
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Head of Broccoli- For a boost of nutrition and a nice crunchy texture.
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Cherry Tomatoes- Adds a bit of sweetness and color to the cauliflower pizza.
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Cooked Chickpeas- A great source of protein and add a nice, nutty flavor.
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Pesto- A vegan pesto adds a delicious finishing touch to the pizza.
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Shaved Parmesan Cheese- Topping off the pizza with a sprinkle of parmesan adds an extra layer of flavor.
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Fresh Basil Leaves- A deliciously sweet garnish.
For the Homemade Pesto
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Fresh Basil Leaves- The main herb in the pesto.
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Fresh Spinach- Adds a nice, earthy flavor.
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Lemon Juice- Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a tart zing to your homemade pesto.
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Lightly Toasted Walnuts- Adds a lovely crunch and nutty flavor.
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Helps to emulsify the pesto.
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Salt- Enhances the taste of all the pesto ingredients.
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Water- Thins out the pesto and helps it become more spreadable.
How To Make Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Start by making the pizza crust. Preheat your oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Next, cut the fresh cauliflower into small florets, and add them to a food processor.
Pulse the cauliflower florets until it reaches a rice-like texture, being careful not to over-process it. Transfer the cauliflower rice into a large bowl, and add the rest of the crust ingredients.
Combine the cauliflower mixture to form a sticky dough. Afterward, transfer the cauliflower dough onto the prepared baking sheet and flatten it into a pizza shape with a large spoon. The texture of the pizza dough is wetter than a normal flour one, but it will dry out when cooked.
Now, it's time to make the pesto! Blend the ingredients in a food processor until smooth while baking the cauliflower pizza dough for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Once done, add your favorite pizza toppings to the cauliflower crust and drizzle with the prepared pesto before serving warm.
Popular Substitutions And Additions
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Add more veggies to your cauliflower crust pizza, such as artichokes, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, olives, garlic, onions, and bell peppers.
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Walnuts in the pesto can be substituted with pine nuts, almonds, or cashews.
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To enhance the flavor of the tomato sauce, use a store-bought pizza sauce or make your own.
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Replace the parmesan cheese with shredded mozzarella cheese or your favorite shredded cheese.
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Experiment with different herbs and spices to add more flavor to the crust.
Can I Freeze Cauliflower Crust Pizza?
Yes, you can freeze cauliflower crust pizza! It does take some prep before freezing, so the slices retain their shape. First, lay each piece on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze for 1 hour. Transfer the slices to an airtight container, label them with the date, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Leftover cauliflower pizza will last up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. When you're ready to eat, heat the slices in the oven or microwave until warm.
Cauliflower Crust Pizza FAQs
Can I use frozen riced cauliflower in this pizza crust recipe?
Yes! You can use either frozen cauliflower or frozen cauliflower rice. Make sure to thaw it first, and then follow the recipe as stated. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-riced cauliflower at the store to save time.
What does cauliflower crust pizza taste like?
Cauliflower crust pizza tastes similar to regular pizza crust but is slightly more dense and chewy. The subtle, earthy flavor of the cauliflower comes through, making it a tasty alternative to regular pizza.
Can I make this pizza entirely vegan?
Yes, you can make this pizza entirely vegan. Instead of eggs, use a vegan egg replacer such as flax or chia eggs. Replace the parmesan with a vegan cheese alternative, or omit it altogether.
Is cauliflower crust pizza gluten-free?
The cauliflower pizza crust is completely gluten-free because it's made with cauliflower and almond flour instead of wheat flour. To make the entire pizza gluten-free, just check the labels of the tomato sauce and other toppings.
Gluten-Free Green Loaded Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 Medium Cauliflower Head rinsed
- ¾ cup Almod Flour
- 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 Organic Eggs beaten
- ½ tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Dry Basil
- 1 tsp Dry Oregano
For the Toppings
- 3 tbsp Tomato Sauce
- 1 cup Fresh Greens mixed (spinach, chard or any other available)
- 1 small Broccoli Head finely diced
- 10 Cherry Tomatoes quartered
- 1 cup Cooked Chickpeas
- 2 tbsp Pesto
- Shaved Parmesan
- Basil Leaves fresh
For the Pesto
- 1 cup Basil Leaves fresh
- 1 cup Spinach fresh
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
- ½ cup Lightly Toasted Walnuts
- 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ cup Water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the cauliflower into florets and add them into the food processor.
- Pulse to obtain a rice-like texture, paying attention not to over-process.
- Transfer the cauliflower rice into a large bowl, and add the rest of the crust ingredients.
- Mix to obtain a sticky batter, then place it on the baking sheet and flatten it with a large spoon, to obtain a pizza shape (the texture is wetter than a normal flour one, but this will be solved in the oven).
- Bake for 20 minutes, until golden.
- Meanwhile, add the pesto ingredients into the food processor and process to obtain a smooth liquid.
- Remove the dough from the oven, add the toppings, drizzle with pesto and serve warm.
