Perfect Cauliflower Pizza Crust Recipe | The Modern Proper (2024)

Crispy Cauliflower Pizza Crust—Because Who Needs the Bread Anyways?

Pizza seems to be the universal love language. Who doesn’t swoon over melted cheese and perfect tomato sauce spread on a base of crisp, toothsome carbs? But, just because we all love it, doesn’t mean we all can eat it.

More and more, I’m learning that I can no longer take for granted my ability to process all those carbs. And so, it’s with much gratitude that I’d like to give a big shout out to everyone’s favorite grocery store for introducing me to pizza’s low-carb counterpart:the cauliflower pizza crust. If you aren’t familiar with Trader Joe’s cauliflower pizza crust, do yourself a favor and try it. And because we love a challenge, we figured out how to make a Trader Joe’s-inspired cauliflower pizza crust at home!

Cauliflower Crust vs. Bread Crust: Three Reasons We Love Cauliflower Crust

  • It’s gluten free.
  • It’s low in carbs.
  • It’s the healthiest pizza crust out there.

Is Cauliflower a Carb?

As you probably know, cauliflower is a vegetable that is very low in carbohydrates. With just about five grams of carbs per one cup serving, it’s a great vegetable to have on hand if you’re trying to stick to a low-carb diet.

But let’s get real for a minute: are you having a hard time believing that cooked cauliflower makes a suitable replacement for bread? Well, you better believe the hype, because the nutty and mild flavor of our favorite cruciferous vegetable makes a really convincing alternative yielding the healthiest pizza crust available.

In addition to simply roasting or steaming to eat as a side dish, cauliflower is an incredibly versatile vegetable that can, with a little technique, stand in place of your favorite carb-y treats like rice, mashed potatoes, and yes, even pizza crust.

So, if the keto, paleo, or gluten-free lifestyle is your thing, you’re going to love this low-carb crust recipe.

Is Cauliflower Pizza Crust Good for You?

Essentially, yes! Once a cauliflower pizza crust—or any pizza crust for that matter—is topped with melty, gooey mozzarella cheese, meat, and whatever other toppings you add the term “healthy” becomes relative. As for carb count though? This crust gets major points in the nutrition category. With just six grams of carbs per slice and tons of vitamin C and antioxidants, I’d say it's probably your healthiest option when it comes to ‘za.

How to Make the Best Cauliflower Pizza Crust:

  1. Cauliflower. You can totally use frozen cauliflower rice for this (yes, this exists! thank you Trader Joe’s!), or fresh, homemade cauliflower rice, but using a whole cauliflower is just as easy (and sometimes cheaper). Simply steam the cauliflower florets until completely tender, and then mash them up.
  1. Crispy Edges- Crispy cauliflower pizza crust should be your goal. Crispy edges and good, chewy texture can only be achieved by getting ALL the moisture out of the mashed cauliflower. For this task we highly recommend using a nut milk bag. If you don’t have one, you can use cheese cloth or a clean tea towel, even layers paper towels will do in pinch. You will need a lot of muscle for this, and can expect the cauliflower to release about one and half cups of excess liquid!
  1. Structure. - to get that bread-like consistency, and bread-like structure—i.e. one that is strong enough to support all those delicious toppings—you’ll need something to bind the cauliflower together. Since we’re not trying to make this crust dairy-free, we’re relying on the binding power of eggs and cheese to hold our crust together. And, if you’re following a keto diet, they’re an added bonus!We used cream cheese in our cauliflower crust recipe, but goat cheese is another tasty option.

What Do I Put on Cauliflower Pizza Crust?

Anything you want! Like any regular pizza, the topping possibilities are endless. We’ve topped our cauliflower pizza crust with:

  • Tomato pesto
  • Fresh mozzarella (or burrata)
  • Black olives
  • Mushrooms
  • Fresh arugula
  • Fresh parmesan

Want To Spice Things Up A Bit? Here Are A Few Of Our Favorite Unusual Pizza Toppings:

  • ‘Everything but the bagel’ seasoning
  • A drizzle of honey (especially when served with salami)
  • Spicy pickled peppers
  • Egg
  • Fire-roasted corn
  • Peaches (especially when paired with pesto and burrata)

Tools You’ll Need to Make Cauliflower Crust:

Need More Low-Carb Dinner Ideas?

  • Low-Carb Chicken Divan
  • Philly Cheese Steak Skillet
  • Lasagna Style Zucchini Boats
  • Chicken Bruschetta

Let's Have Pizza for Every Meal.

When the crust is made out of cauliflower that’s allowed, right? If you use our cauliflower pizza crust as the base for your favorite toppings we want to see it! Post a picture of your creation to Instagram and tag @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

Perfect Cauliflower Pizza Crust Recipe | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep cauliflower crust from sticking? ›

Heat your oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Dust the mat with a bit of potato starch so that the crust doesn't stick. Spoon the cauliflower mixture onto the baking sheet and evenly spread it out into a circle until it's about 1 inch thick.

Why does my cauliflower pizza have so many carbs? ›

A single slice could have anywhere from 2 to 29 grams. That's a huge range, especially because cauliflower isn't carb-heavy (a cup has 5 grams). Why the difference? Crusts may include rice or brown rice flour, sugar, tapioca starch, and corn starch, which supply carbs.

Is cauliflower crust pizza really healthier? ›

Though cauliflower crust isn't inherently healthier than traditional crust, it tends to be higher in protein and fiber. It's also higher in fat and cholesterol. Cauliflower pizza crust can fit gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, low carb, or weight loss diets.

Why is my cauliflower pizza soggy? ›

Next, when I tried making the crusts from scratch, pulsing cauliflower florets in the food processor and then steaming them for a few minutes until tender, I learned another crucial step: squeezing the cauliflower in a kitchen towel to get rid of as much liquid as possible. That helps avoid sogginess.

How to make caulipower pizza crust crispy? ›

Cooking Instructions

Remove crust from box & overwrap. Layer crust with your favorite toppings. Cook topped crust directly on the middle rack (no pan needed!) until cheese is golden brown and crust is crispy, typically 12-15 minutes.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

Does cauliflower crust spike blood sugar? ›

Obviously, cauliflower pizza is more “diabetes friendly” than traditional types of pizza with flour crust. It's not rocket science — fewer carbs means less spiking of glucose levels, so there's no need to “chase it” with large amounts of insulin.

What is the healthiest pizza crust? ›

Both the cauliflower crust and the whole-wheat crust offer fiber and protein, which play a key role in weight loss by helping to keep you feeling full and satisfied after a meal. But if you're not trying to cut carbs and are looking for that traditional pizza pie flavor, the whole-wheat crust is what you want.

Why is cauliflower pizza not keto? ›

The premade cauliflower crusts in your local grocery store or pizza restaurant are rarely crafted with the keto diet in mind. If you check the ingredients, you are likely to find corn starch, corn flour, potato starch, chickpea flour, potato flour, and/or tapioca starch.

Is cauliflower pizza crust inflammatory? ›

Cauliflower is high in fiber which we all know is super important for our bodies. Fiber works to reduce inflammation and help your digestive system. Vegetables that are rich in fiber are also known to lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

How many carbs are in one slice of cauliflower pizza? ›

As for carbs, cauliflower pizza crust comes in at 16 grams of carbohydrates. Compared to our deep dish, gluten-free, original, and skinny crusts, cauliflower crust is middle of the road for carbohydrates. It's equivalent to a deep dish, which has 15 grams of carbohydrates.

How long is cauliflower pizza good for in the fridge? ›

To store: store any leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or back in the oven to keep it crispy. Freeze the crust without toppings. After baking the crust, you can wrap it in foil and freeze it for later.

Why does cauliflower pizza hurt my stomach? ›

Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust.

How do you keep crust from sticking? ›

Try a light spray of cooking oil or line the pan with parchment paper if it's a persistant problem. I'm a fan of baking parchment paper. The treated surface or coatings on this paper give it a non-stick surface and resistance to higher temperatures than normal paper.

How to cook pre made cauliflower crust? ›

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure your oven is fully heated before making your pizza. Remove all packaging from your pizza before placing it directly on the rack. Cook it at 425 degrees for between 13 and 15 minutes until the cheese has a golden tint.

Do you add salt when blanching cauliflower? ›

Blanching your vegetables makes them sweeter and more tender. But if you drop a small handful of kosher salt into the water, you'll also be gently seasoning the vegetables at the same time. Just like pasta, cooking vegetables in salted water helps the seasoning permeate the vegetable.

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