HMOH homemaid: cauliflower crust pizza

With May in the way and a looming bathing suit season (and some admitted slip-ups where I've taken advantage of the 24 hr pizza place downstairs), it's time to get real.  So with that I'm committed to homemaid (yep, yep … I did that) healthy options.  I've been noticing a lot of super slim people on facebook lately and I'm not too happy about it.  


Here's a great recipe that peaked my Pinterest and … because it was on a credible source (read: Lauren Conrad's blog), I figured it had to make me skinny.  I tried the Cauliflower Crust Pizza (yep, no bread) this evening and it was surprisingly awesome!  There you go -  you're welcome.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

ingredients

• 1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon crushed garlic
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• olive oil (optional)
• pizza sauce, shredded cheese and choice of your toppings*

how-to
1.  rice the cauliflower (rice yes, carbs nope)

• Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater … or in my case, put it in your mini chopper and hope for the best). 
• Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes (no water needed - the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself). One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.  With an Italian mother ringing in my ear, I clearly doubled up the recipe for leftovers.

2.  in cauliflower we crust

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray
• In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella (I used reduced fat)
• Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir.
• Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.  NOTE:  I used two 8" cake rounds after doubling the recipe.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven
• To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).

*recipe sidenotes

• Your toppings should be precooked since you're just broiling at the end.  I used sauteed green peppers and Trader Joe's meatless meatballs (which I mashed and sprinkled)
• Make sure your crust is golden around the edges; I could have left mine in for a little longer so the "crust" would be firmer
• Consider this for a party appetizer and make "Cauliflower Crust Pizza Bites"

Calories per serving: 218

Serves Two 

-HMOH