Cauliflower-Crust Pizza

Name: Cauliflower-Crust Pizza
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Yield: Makes one 11-inch pizza
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1 pinch kosher salt (a big one); 1 cup very thick tomato sauce; 5 ounces whole-milk, low-moisture mozzarella, grated (about 1 1/4 cups); 1 dash red pepper flakes, for serving; 1 dash dried oregano, for serving

By Emma Laperruque

February 28, 2018

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Cauliflower-Crust Pizza — Photo by Rocky Luten

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Author Notes: The crux of this crust is squeezing out all the water from the cooked, riced cauliflower. And there is a lot of water. Wring it until you're sure there's no more moisture—then wring some more. I use all eggs—and no cheese—a technique adapted from "The Food Therapist" by Shira Lenchewski. Homemade or jarred tomato sauce both work. Just make sure to cook it down until slightly jammy. Toppings, from pepperoni and black olives to mushrooms and garlic, are also welcome. —Emma Laperruque

Makes: one 11-inch pizza
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min

1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
2 large eggs, beaten
1 pinch kosher salt (a big one)
1 cup very thick tomato sauce
5 ounces whole-milk, low-moisture mozzarella, grated (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 dash red pepper flakes, for serving
1 dash dried oregano, for serving

Pulse the cauliflower in a food processor until very fine—less cauliflower rice, more cauliflower couscous. Microwave, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes, until steamy and tender. (You can also do this on the stove in a steamer.) Dump onto a kitchen linen and let cool. When cool, squeeze out all the water.
Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Transfer the squeezed-out cauliflower into a bowl. Add the eggs and salt. Stir until well combined. Dump this onto the sheet pan and press into a large, thin circle—roughly 11 inches in diameter.
Bake the crust for 15 minutes. It should feel firmish and dry. Remove from the oven. Evenly spread the tomato sauce on top. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake for another 15 minutes. During the last minute or so, turn on the broiler. Watch the oven to make sure the cheese doesn’t burn (and the parchment doesn’t catch on fire). You want the cheese speckled and spotted.
Season with red pepper flakes and dried oregano. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing into triangles and serving.