Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Recipe courtesy of The Lucky Penny Blog (check out more of her recipes!)
Ingredients:
1 small to medium sized head of cauliflower - should yield 2 to 3 cups once processed
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
A few shakes of crushed red pepper (optional)
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1 tbsp almond meal (optional)
Desired amount of sauce, cheese for topping, and other toppings
Instructions:
Place a pizza stone in the oven, or baking sheet if you don't have a pizza stone. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a cutting board, place a large piece of parchment paper and spray it with nonstick cooking oil.
Wash and thoroughly dry a small head of cauliflower. Don't get one the size of your head unless you are planning on making 2 pizzas. Cut off the florets; you don't need much stem. Pulse in the food processor for about 30 seconds, until it's powdery like snow.
Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl and cover. Microwave for 4 minutes. Dump cooked cauliflower onto a clean tea towel and allow to cool for a bit before attempting the next step.
Once cauliflower is cool enough to handle, wrap it up in a dish towel and squeeze out as much water as possible. This will ensure you get a chewy pizza-like crust instead of a crumbly mess.
Dump cauliflower into a bowl. Now add parmesan and mozzarella cheese, salt, basil and oregano (crush basil and oregano between your fingers before adding), garlic powder, and red pepper.
Now add your egg and mix away. Hands tend to work best.
Once mixed together, use your hands to form the dough into a crust on your oiled parchment paper. Pat it down thoroughly until it's tightly formed together and of uniform thickness.
Using a cutting board, slide the parchment paper onto your hot pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 8 - 11 minutes, until it starts to turn golden brown. Remove from oven.
Add however much sauce, cheese, and toppings you want--you know how you like your pizza - so go for it! Slide parchment with topped pizza back in the hot oven and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
Test your patience and allow it to cool for a minute or two. Then using a pizza cutter and a spatula, serve up your delicious grain-free cauliflower crust pizza!
Tip:
If you end up with closer to 2 cups than 3 cups of cauliflower once processed, the almond meal may help it stick together so you can spread it thinner.