Cauliflower crust pizza
My friends seem very happy that they have someone from whom they can request recipes and I am absolutely thrilled when my friends reach out to me for tips/ suggestions & ofcourse, recipes. I recently had a chat with a friend who was looking for low carb not so high protein but filling kinda food; didn’t want the typical south indian food options. As we were talking, I already had various options in my mind (and hopefully, you should see them all in my blog soon). A few options jfyi that I have noted down to blog (apart from this beautiful Cauliflower crust pizza) are cauliflower & peas cutlets and seed crackers. Anywho, I have been seeing this pizza where the crust is made from cauliflower doing the rounds a while back on the internet & have been wanting to try it for a longggggg time. But as they always say, there is a right time for everything 😀 and now seems to be the right time for my cauliflower pizza, hahahaha. Last thursday I decided I am going to make this & I didn’t have any cauliflower at home nor parm nor moz :). I actually took the pains of going shopping to a grocery right after work (I hate doing this & people who know me will totally get this) & I bought whatever I needed to get. I was literally dreaming & drooling as soon as I reached home and started preparing the stuff right after. I am not exaggerating when I tell you this – the pizza was amazzzzing. It doesn’t take too long to pull this through but it takes a bit of vessels (I really prefer dishes which requires less use of vessels) but once in a while for something as special as this dish, it is totally worth it :). For those of you who are looking at a low carb option while keeping it interesting & not boring options – THIS one is totally it. The next time around I make this (maybe in a week or so :)), I wanna try making the whole thing on a stove top instead of baking. I have a good feeling that this one is going to turn out awesome even on a stove top & should take half the time it takes to bake. So stay tuned on that :).
![](https://www.spicebuffet.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1658-scaled.jpg)
- 0.5 tbsp flaxseed powder
- 1.5 tbsp warm water
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 1/2 flaxegg
- 1/8 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 1/8 cup parmesan cheese
- 6 nos walnuts
- 1/8 cup olive oil
- 1 no garlic
- a pinch salt
- a fine sprinkle freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small onion
- 1 small capsicum
- 4-5 nos button mushrooms
- 1 no garlic
- 1 no green chilli
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 small mozarella balls/ bocconcini
- few fresh basil leaves
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In a bowl, mix the flax seed power & warm water.
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Set it aside for 15 minutes. What you will have in the end will be have the texture of an egg.
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Take the cauliflower florets in a mixer jar & pulse a few times till you get a coarse/ rice like texture.
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Transfer the cauliflower rice to a bowl.
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Add a cup of boiling hot water to it. Cover with a lid & set it aside for 5 minutes.
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After 5 minutes, strain the cauliflower rice on to a muslin cloth & squeeze out as much water as you can (you will have to repeat this process a few times).
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What you will be left with is a cauliflower mash. Transfer it back to the bowl.
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To this, add the flax egg, red chilli flakes, salt & parmesan cheese.
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Mix well. What you will have now will be of a dough consistency.
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Divide the cauliflower dough into 2 equal balls.
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Using your finger tips, spread the dough onto a baking tray coated with a drizzle of olive oil.
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Bake in a pre heated oven of 200c for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the pizza crust the last few minutes to ensure you don't burn the base :).
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Take the basil leaves in a bowl & blanch for 1 minute in hot water.
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Strain the leaves & add it to a mixer jar.
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Also add parmesan cheese, garlic, walnuts, olive oil, some freshly ground pepper & a teeny tiny amount of salt.
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Grind till smooth. Set it aside.
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Cut your veggies - green chilli & garlic - tiny pieces; onion, capsicum & shrooms - thin and long.
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In a small pan, heat (medium-high) some oil & add the green chilli & garlic.
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Saute till the garlic starts to brown.
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Add the onions & saute till they start to brown.
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Add capsicum, a bit of salt & saute till the capsicum starts to soften (roughly around 2 mins).
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Add the mushrooms & a bit more salt - saute till the mushrooms are soft & dwindle to half their original quantity. Check & adjust for salt.
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Add some oregano, mix well & turn off the heat.
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Take out the pizza crust once done & top/ smear with some basil pesto.
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Divide the veggies into halves & top/ spread/ sprinkle on the pizza.
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Tear up some moz & fresh basil leaves, top these on to the pizza.
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Bake for 5 minutes in the oven at 200c.
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Once done, take it out of the oven, let it cool for 2 minutes.
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Cut into quarters & yenjoyyyyyyy!!!!!
- If you think your cauliflower dough is a bit too sticky, add 1 tbsp of corn flour.
- I sautéed my veggies first so as to be able to add more veggies on to the pizza.
- You can add half an egg instead of flax egg if you have & consume eggs.
- I made a slightly big batch of pesto which I used in other dishes. I used only 2 tsp for the above dish.
- You can replace the basil pesto for any spread of your choice – a basic marinara works absolutely fine.
- I limited the amount of cheese but you can more if you want to. I did not miss the cheese at all honestly. It felt to be of the right amount needed for the pizza.
- You can definitely make the whole thing on a stove top instead of baking. All you need is a sturdy/ heavy duty pan & a transparent lid to see through when the cheese melts. Infact, stove top should take half the time it takes for baking I think.Â
Stepwise pictures
For half flaxegg
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1640-1024x680.jpg)
To make the flax egg, mix 0.5 tbsp flax seed power with 1.5 tbsp warm water. Set it aside for 10-15 minutes.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1648-1024x680.jpg)
After 10-15 minutes, the flax egg will be ready for use – will have a consistency v similar to egg.
For the cauliflower pizza crust
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1638-1024x680.jpg)
Take 2 cups of cauliflower florets & place it in a mixer jar.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1639-1024x680.jpg)
Grind till you have a coarse rice-like consistency. Transfer to a bowl.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1641-1024x680.jpg)
Immerse the cauliflower rice in 1 cup hot water. Set it aside for 5 minutes.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1647-1024x680.jpg)
Strain it using a muslin cloth & squeeze out the excess water. You will have to repeat the squeezing process a few times.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1649-1024x680.jpg)
What you will end up with a cauliflower mash like this. Place it in the same bowl.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1650-1024x680.jpg)
To this add the parmesan cheese, red chilli flakes, salt & flax egg. Mix well. What you will have is a dough like consistency now.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1651-1024x680.jpg)
Divide the cauliflower dough into 2 equal sized balls & spread it to a 4 inch base using your finger tips onto a baking tray drizzled with a bit of olive oil.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1652-1024x680.jpg)
Bake in a preheated oven at 200c for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the crust the last few minutes so as to not burn the crust. While the crust is getting baked, you can prep on the veggies & pesto.
For the basil pesto
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1630-1024x680.jpg)
In a bowl, place a cup of basil leaves.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1631-1024x680.jpg)
Blanch this with 1/2 cup hot water for 1 minute.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1632-1024x680.jpg)
You will notice the colour of the leaves starting to change a bit. Strain the basil leaves onto a mixer jar.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1633-1024x680.jpg)
Along with the basil leaves, add walnuts, parmesan cheese, garlic & olive oil.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1635-1024x680.jpg)
Pulse till smooth. You can add some fresh black pepper & a tiny bit of salt in the beginning as well. I forgot & added it later :).
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1636-1024x680.jpg)
Grind till smooth & set it aside.
For the veggies
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1642-1024x680.jpg)
Start by dicing your veggies – garlic & chilli – small & tiny. The other veggies onion, capsicum & mushrooms – thin & long. Once that’s all done, heat a pan on medium to high with some olive oil & add the garlic & chillies. Saute till the garlic starts to brown.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1643-1024x680.jpg)
Throw in the onions at this stage & saute till they start to brown.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1644-1024x680.jpg)
Add the capsicum & a bit of salt. Saute till the capsicum starts to soften – about 2 minutes.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1645-1024x680.jpg)
Now add the mushrooms & a bit more of salt. Saute till the mushrooms are cooked (they will reduce by half their quantity & will be come soft).
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1646-1024x680.jpg)
Just before turning off the heat, add some dried oregano. Turn off the heat. Set it aside.
For the pizza finale
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1653-1024x680.jpg)
Now is the time to assemble everything together. Once the pizza crust is done, take it out of the oven. Top each of the crust with a tsp pesto and spread it out.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1654-1024x680.jpg)
Divide the veggies into 2 halves & spread/ sprinkle on each. Also tear up some moz & sprinkle.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1655-1024x680.jpg)
Finally, tear up some fresh basil leaves & sprinkle on top. If you don’t have basil leaves, just a sprinkle of dried oregano or any other italian seasoning would be just fine.
![](http://sowmptuous.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_1658-1024x680.jpg)
Bake for 5 minutes in the oven at 200c. Take it out of the oven, slice into pieces & serve hot! Yummmmmm & you would totally understand how healthy can be utmost yummy too :).