Cauliflower Crust Pizza

I just tried this recipe from Eat. Drink. Smile. It was no deep-dish, brick-oven, hearty, heavy slice of indulgence, but it satisfied my endless hankering for pizza.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Serves 2; Adapted from this bulletin board.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (6 PointsPlus)
1 egg, beaten (2 PointsPlus)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
olive oil (optional)
pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings*

Directions:

To "Rice" the Cauliflower:
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). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. There is no need to add water, as 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.

To Make the Pizza Crust:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. (I used my pizza stone and had it preheating while I made the crust).

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. 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.

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).

Enjoy!

*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

TOTAL POINTS PLUS: 8 (for crust only...not including the added toppings)

Open-Faced Mozzarella Sandwiches

1 cup plum tomatoes seeded and chopped
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp green onion, sliced thin
1 tsp fresh basil, chopped (or 1/4 tsp dried)
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
dash cayenne pepper
4 slices Italian bread (3/4 inch thick)
1/2 c mozzarella cheese, shredded

In a small bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Drain 2 teaspoons lizuid form the tomato mixture; brush onto one side of each slice of bread. Broil until crisp, about 1 to 2 min. Spoon 1/4 cup tomato mixture on each piece of bread; sprinkle with cheese. Broil 1 to 2 min. or until bubbly. Yield 2 servings

Pizza Bread

Frozen Bread Dough, thawed (or home made bread dough)
Deli Ham sliced thin
Genoa Salami sliced thin
Shredded Mozzarella
Shredded cheddar
basil
Oregano

Roll out dough lay ham, Genoa, cheeses, herbs, fold bread into thirds. Put olive oil on out side and sprinkle with more herbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake 350 for opt. 20 min.

You can spread with pizza sauce before you fold
also you can add tomato slices mushrooms or whatever.

Pizza Dough

6 cups flour
1 1/2 TBS yeast
1 1/2 TBS salt
1 TBS sugar
1/4 cup butter
3 cups water

Put 2 cups flour in a bowl with other dry ingredients. Mix in 1 1/2 cups water and put remaining 1 1/2 cups water in a sauce pan with butter and heat on low to melt the butter (you do not want it to boil). As soon as the butter is melted add it to the rest of the dough and mix in slowly. Then add the remaining flour until it is the consistency that you like, then need it for 2-3 minutes. Then let it rise for an hour. Punch down the dough and let rise for another hour. Quarter the dough and shape each ball into pizza crusts. Place on a greased pizza pan or divide and freeze. Add toppings (sauce, cheese, meat, veggies, etc.). Cook at 400-degrees for 20 minutes or until the bottom crust is golden brown. (This recipe will make four half meals or two full meals).

Pizza Bread

Frozen bread dough, thawed
Deli ham, thinly sliced
Genoa Salami, thinly sliced
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Basil
Oregano
Olive Oil
Parmesan cheese

Roll out dough and lay ham, salami, cheeses and herbs down the center of the dough, lengthwise. Fold the bread dough into thirds to cover meat. Rub oil over the top and sprinkle with additional seasonings and Parmesan. Bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.