Cauliflower Crust Spinach White Pizza

March 3, 2014

Cauliflower Crust Spinach White Pizza

Habit is powerful: things are done a certain way because that’s how they’ve been done before, and because that’s the way the people expects them.
Such as pizza.
Since you were 5 you’ve been told that pizza is basically bread with tomato sauce and cheese on it, and maybe some other stuff.
You liked pizza because it came in huge quantities and it could be easily divided into equal parts; satisfying your obsession with fairness.
You liked pizza because there was no chance for your mom to trick you into eating veggies by hiding them — and if she tried, you could pick them out, one-by-one.
You liked pizza because it’s basically inoffensive food made with few, reassuring ingredients.

Cauliflower Crust Spinach White Pizza


But pizza-habits are meant to be broken (just like any other habit).
On top of that, you’re no longer 5 and you’ve opened yourself to the possibility that pizza can be made differently.
For instance, you now know that regular dough can be replaced with a healthy cauliflower crust and still be delicious.
Today you’ll learn that you can take tomato sauce out of the pizza equation and find out that cauliflower crust pizza works in all forms, shapes, and with any topping.
Cauliflower Crust Spinach White Pizza
In case you aren't familiar with the term, white pizza refers to pizza that contains no tomato sauce, just cheese with other toppings.
Basically when you have regular white pizza, you’re eating cheese and bread. No veggies in sight; not even in the form of tomato sauce.
White pizza is arguably the unhealthiest pizza there is.
Not if you’re making it with cauliflower crust though.
Low carb, gluten-free and with a solid two servings of vegetables, cauliflower crust white pizza is pretty darn healthy.
Since we’re health freaks, we go even further and add spinach on top. There you have it, two full servings of veggies in one slice. Not only delicious, but also good for you.
So good for you, you can actually have pizza AND dessert, you’ve totally earned it!

Cauliflower Crust Spinach White Pizza
Cauliflower Crust Spinach White Pizza                                                              Print this recipe!

Ingredients
Yields a 12-inch pizza

Cauliflower crust

1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets (should yield 3 cups of cauliflower rice)
1 free-range organic egg, lightly beaten
½ cup / 1.7 oz / 50 gr shredded mozzarella cheese
½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Topping

¾ cup / 2.6 oz / 75 gr shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup cooked spinach
¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Handful sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F (220°C) and place a rack in the middle.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and liberally grease with olive oil. Set aside.
In a food processor rice the cauliflower florets (it should be evenly chopped but not completely pulverized).
Transfer cauliflower rice to a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 8 minutes, until cooked.
Place the cauliflower rice in a tea towel and twist it to squeeze as much moisture as you can (I usually squeeze out over a cup of liquid). This is very important. The cauliflower rice needs to be dry, otherwise you’ll end up with mushy dough.
Transfer the cauliflower rice to a mixing bowl, add egg, mozzarella, oregano, salt and pepper and mix well.
Using your hands, press the mixture onto the baking sheet and shape into a thin pizza “disc”.
Bake for 15 minutes, until golden.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
Scatter mozzarella cheese evenly over the pizza base and spread the spinach over this. Sprinkle the Pecorino Romano and add a pinch salt.
Return to the oven and bake for further for 10 minutes.

Nutrition facts

The whole pie yields 597 calories, 36 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbs and 47 grams of protein.

60 comments:

  1. I love white pizza. Especially since I cannot eat tomatoes. Adding spinach is also a favorite of mine. I will have to try making the cauliflower crust (been using a GF mix lately).

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    1. You have to try it Lauren, I'm 100% sure you're going to love it!

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  2. Looks great Mike, you should open a cauliflower crust pizza parlor!

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    1. I was thinking more of a cauliflower crust pizza food truck!

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  3. *faceplant* We're on the same wavelength buddy! :)

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  4. Ummmmmmm I have tried a cauliflower pizza crust before but it needs to be made again, especially after seeing yours!

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  5. I have been fascinated with cauliflower crust pizza since I first saw a recipe you posted last year - but I have yet to try it - this one is the kick in the bahooty I need to just do it! Love the look of this pizza, Mike-I am all for 2 veggie servings in one delectable slice!

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    1. Go for it Shashi...and you'll see, once you go cauli crust, you'll never go back! ;)

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  6. Looks fantastic Mike!!!!!!

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  7. This is one of your best recipes yet. I love white pizza and I absolutely adore cauliflower. Making this soon!

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  8. Seriously can't wait to try cauliflower crust. Here's the key question I have for you. I am obsessed with grilled pizza. Can you grill cauliflower crust? If so, I'm a convert and trying this weekend! If not, I'm still gonna try it! :) Great recipe Mike, love the spinach addition!

    Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats

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  9. So if this is not delivered to me in under 30 minutes, do I get it for free? I think I see a FREE pizza in my future ;)

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  10. This recipe looks great, can’t wait to try this out. prepare so very fast and simple

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  11. I've totally been wanting to do a cauliflower pizza crust! Just did the spaghetti squash one and love that... so can't wait to try it with cauliflower! And love the spinach and sundried tomato combo... looks like a great dinner man!

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    1. HI - I am new here - I searched the recipes page for the 'spaghetti squash one' (pizza crust?)... couldn't find it. Only found one recipe to use the squash... would love to find it and try it. Can you point me in the right direction?

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  12. Yep, I know this recipe works because my husband made pizza using your c.c. recipe last weekend. And my kids ate it, so it's definitely a winner!!!

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  13. Your cauliflower crust looks amazing, I tried one once and it was so bad we couldn't eat it (think I tried a bad recipe). You've given me enough hope to buy 2 heads of cauliflower and try again!

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    1. Second time's the charm with cauli crust, especially if you follow the right recipe! ;)

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  14. I love cauliflower crust, it does not take away from pizza-love at all!

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  15. Pizza AND dessert? Now, that sounds cool to me! I love how you added spinach on top and the cheese ahhhh so good.
    I've never tried cauliflower pizza crusts, but I've been meaning to forever and it's about time I give them a go now ;--) xx

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  16. For some reason, I've never been a fan of tomato sauce on pizza... I much prefer just a little bit of olive oil, a good grinding of salt and pepper, few herbs... the tomato sauce is way too overpowering and take so much away from the other flavors.

    So I guess I've been doing white pizza all this time without even knowing it. I thought for sure white pizza was pizza with a white sauce on it, like a bechamel or something. Looks like I just learned something new.

    And also gained a major craving for pizza. I'm telling you, this place is evil. PURE EVIL!!! I must leave at once and never return. Or try. Again.

    Damn you, TIY, why must you be so irresistible?

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    1. That's who I am Sonia, what can I possibly do about it! ;)

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  17. I can't do dairy (cheese).. Can you leave that out of the crust as an ingredient or is it needed to help hold it together?

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  18. Can I omit the cheese in the crust to make it vegan? or sub nutritional yeast??

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  19. I am going to have to try this as a vegan version! What a unique recipe!

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  20. Just made this- really yummy! I made two smaller pizzas, lowering the temp by 25 degrees and cooking for 13 instead of 15 pizzas. I used your spinach white pizza on one, and a prosciutto arugula pizza for the other. Couldn't have been better. You definitely need to salt it enough, though.

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  21. I have been searching for the perfect cauliflower dough recipe and a lot of the ones on pinterest seem to take forever or just not come out right. I'll definitely be giving this a try! Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Hilarious and beautiful post!! I have been meaning to make a cauliflower crust... this is getting bookmarked!

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  23. After wanted to try cauliflower crust pizza for MONTHS, I came across your blog today and salivated looking at all your uses with this amazing gluten crust alternative.

    I'm now sitting here with a full and happy belly. Tomorrow I try the hot pockets!

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  24. I have always wanted to make a cauliflower crusted pizza. Finally do so with this recipe. Since it was my first time, I make half the pizza with the spinach/sun-dried tomatoes and the other half with red sauce and cheese. Well, both were good BUT the spinach/sun-dried tomatoes side was excellent! For the spinach, I sauteed half of fresh spinach and added raw fresh spinach which turned out to be a great combo. I also add the pizza toppings to the eye versus the measurements of this recipe. Hence, more cheese, more spinach and more roasted tomatoes. It turned out so yum!

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  25. How about a microwave free alternative? How would you cook the cauliflower and for how long? I don't have nor intend on getting a microwave. Thanks.

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  26. I too don't use a nuker. Maybe one would steam the cauliflower first and then rice it and dry it?

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  27. This looks amazing!! I definitely need to take some pointers from here..
    I've written a blog post on my version of a cauliflower pizza, it's no where near to this standard but I'm still learning, it'd be great if anybody wanted to check it out :)
    http://thatthoughtfulgirl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/pizza-with-twist.html

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  28. I have seen cauliflower crusts on a few websites, but none are vegan. I will have to experiment with making it vegan. I love that it is gluten free.

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    1. Just put the head of cauliflower in the oven at 400 for 20 minutes and enjoy! This is what we have every Friday night for dinner. Cheers

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  29. Just came across this...very interesting, but how is 1/2 cup of Mozzarella the same amount in grams as 3/4 cup? You know us Europeans can't handle American measurements ;-)

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  30. Just came across this post, and I have to tell you that I've never had a white pizza that is just cheese and crust - and I had a LOT of white pizzas. The ones I've had are made with béchamel sauce or the like. I do like the sound of this one, although I would probably choose to leave out the sun-drieds - because I like my pizzas sans tomatoes… :-)

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    1. Once in Italy I had a 4 cheese pizza. Basically pizza dough topped with 4 different kinds of cheese: delish!

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  31. Hi Mike,

    Just stumbled on your blog, literally (stumble upon). Nice surprise. Loving this recipe. What's not to love? Nie to virtually meet you. Off to have a look and then add you to my blog roll.

    Jac
    :)

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  32. I would make this more often if it wasn't such a PIA to squeeze all the water out of the cauliflower rice! After I chopped my rice in the food processor I hit Google up. Found a suggestion to roast the florets then put in food processor. Voila, no water! I will diffenitly try that next time

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  33. This was so amazing! I added goat cheese and mushrooms. My husband said it was the best pizza he has ever had, and I agree!

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  34. Love it! Just made it today and added an Italian blend of shaved cheeses, plus crushed red pepper! FABULOUS!

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  35. From a fellow triathlete.....this is amazing!!

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  36. If you live anywhere near a Trader Joe's store, you can buy already "riced" cauliflower and broccoli...and shredded brussels sprouts (wonderful roasted).

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  37. All I have are these inorganic eggs. I cant seem to crack it either...

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  38. All I have are these inorganic eggs and I can't manage to crack them. They're dinging my pan up too!

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  39. Just so you know...this is posted on another site. Not only is it the same recipe, but it's the same picture, AND it was copied before you changed the gram weight on the cheeses.

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  40. I forgot to post this...here's the link to that site: https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/1024625032/cauliflower-crust-spinach-white-pizza/?locale=en_US

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  41. Just made this pizza, and it was da bomb!!! The only thing I would change is leaving out the salt from the crust, as it seemed too salty to me, probably from the cheese. But other than that, it was magnificent. Will definitely be making this pizza crust again and trying with different toppings! Unfortunately, could not get hubby to try cuz I just made a sweet potato bread recipe that he tried and hated. Wish I would have made this first cuz I know he would love it!

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  42. P.S. I also chopped up a bunch of garlic and added it into the pizza crust. Delish. :)

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  43. Just made this pizza today, followed the recipe exactly and it came out really great! I shredded way too much cauliflower though, so I ended up making 2 pizzas. Going to experiment with some different toppings next, maybe adding some goat cheese?

    Thanks a lot for this great recipe!

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