You can still have your favorite pizza, even if you are avoiding carbs or gluten with, yes, cauliflower!

A member of the cancer-fighting cruciferous family of vegetables cauliflower contains 77 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. It’s also a good source of vitamin K, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, and manganese. And it’s easy to turn this healthy vegetable into a satisfying crust for your favorite pizza toppings!

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, stalk removed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup almond or tapioca flour (I prefer tapioca for texture)
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Preheat your oven to 400 F.
Place the cauliflower in a food processor until it’s fine and almost powdery. (You may want to do this in different batches.)
Steam the shredded cauliflower for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain well, let cool, and strain any excess water using a dish towel. (Squeezing makes all the difference!)
In a bowl, combine the cauliflower, eggs, oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, almond or tapioca flour, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything thoroughly.
Transfer to a pizza pan or baking sheet and create desired shape.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes.
Add desired toppings and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until toppings are cooked.

Tips and ideas:

Trader Joe’s and many grocery stores sell pre-packaged cauliflower “rice” that you can use for this crust. (Some further shredding may be needed.)
To steam when time is short, you can place cauliflower grains in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 5- 7 minutes on high.
Add ½ cup mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan for a change in texture and flavor.

Give this anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, vegetable another chance to surprise your taste buds. This healthier crust has been known to trick even the pickiest eaters of the family into liking cauliflower!

Tiffany is a certified nutrition consultant and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and can be reached at (760) 285.1221. For more information visit TiffanyDalton.net.