Making a great pizza requires that all the components are flavorful and play well together. This Margherita Pizza on Cauliflower Crust is a trifecta of fresh toppings, gourmet sauce, and a tasty cauliflower crust that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. To make it even better, we came up with an easier process for preparing the cauliflower for this crust.
If you’ve ever made a cauliflower pizza crust, you know that it’s a bit of a laborious process to prepare the cauliflower. Many recipes require shredding, cooking, and squeezing the liquid out by hand. With our process, you will cook, press the water out with a ricer, and “shred” the cauliflower in a blender. It’s fairly quick and easy and we’ll bet that this pizza won’t last more than a few minutes once its out of the oven. Be careful though, it will be hot! 🙂
Easy Process to Prep Cauliflower
Check this out, this is a pretty easy process to get the cauliflower prepped and ready to go so you can mix the cauliflower “dough.” Microwave the cauliflower and transfer a few florets to a ricer to squeeze water out of the cauliflower. Then put the florets into a blender or food processor and pulse until thoroughly minced. Repeat until all cauliflower is pressed and minced.
Cauliflower Crust
Once you process the cauliflower and mix the ingredients together to make the “dough,” press the “dough” out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Work the mixture into an even layer about 1/4 inch thick, using a rubber/silicone spatula. While it bakes for 15-20 minutes, prep your sauce.
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- Spread “dough” into your shape of choice.
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- Press “dough” to about 1/4″ thick.
Gourmet Sauce
What’s gourmet about this sauce? The flavor, of course! You don’t have to do a lot of work to create a gourmet taste. Just combine some chunky marinara sauce or stewed tomatoes with fresh garlic and some herbs, heat for a few minutes on the stove top and you’re done!
Top & Bake
It wouldn’t be a Margherita Pizza without the essential toppings. Finish off this tasty pizza with some shredded mozzarella cheese, sliced roma tomatoes, and fresh basil. Pop back into the oven to bake for a few minutes to melt the cheese and warm up the tomatoes and that’s it!
Margherita Pizza on Cauliflower Crust
Ingredients
Cauliflower Crust
- 2 cups cauliflower coursely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 egg slightly beaten
Pizza Sauce
- 1 cup chunky marinara sauce or canned chopped tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp crushed red peppers
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Toppings
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1-2 roma tomatoes sliced
- 2-3 Tbs fresh basil leaves chopped, sliced or whole
Instructions
Make the Crust
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Preheat oven to 425.
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Coursely chop cauliflower and place in a heat-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap (or use a Ziploc 'Zip 'n Steam' bag for a similar effect).
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Microwave for 4 minutes, remove plastic, and transfer to a ricer to squeeze water out of the cauliflower. Squeeze firmly to drain - the cauliflower will not process through the ricer.
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Put a few florets at a time into a blender or food processor and pulse until thoroughly minced. Repeat until all cauliflower is minced.
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Place cauliflower in a bowl and add basil, oregano, garlic powder, garlic salt, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
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Add egg and mix thoroughly.
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Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread mixture out into your shape(s) of choice (we like a rectangle), approximately 1/4 inch thick.
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Work the mixture into an even layer, using a rubber/silicone spatula. It works well to even out the thickness and clean up the edges (if you want).
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Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Make the sauce
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Warm a small sauce pan to medium heat and add all the ingredients listed for the sauce above and mix well. Heat for 2-3 minutes just to get the flavors to combine. Set aside.
Add the Toppings
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Once the crust is golden and to your liking, top with sauce, cheese, sliced tomatoes, and basil. Return to oven until cheese is melted.
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Let rest for a couple of minutes, then slice and serve.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Our Best Bites Cauliflower Pizza Crust
What do you think of our process for prepping the cauliflower? Did you make this Margherita Pizza with Cauliflower Crust? Snap a pic of your creation and share on social with #vegetariant.
Enjoy!
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