Pizza is one of the most loved and customizable foods ever. Whether it is Margherita, 4 Stagioni or 4 Formaggi, it is a hot and easy-to-eat dish that can satisfy anyone's palate. If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet or are simply trying to reduce your consumption, classic pizza is strictly forbidden, as the dough is rich in carbohydrates. Thankfully, though, there is the option of making an equally good low-carb pizza without the traditional crust.
Ingrediants
Cauliflower Crust Pizza
- 1 head of cauliflower
- ½ cup (120 ml) of water
- ½ teaspoon (9 g) of salt
- 15 g of fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 30 g of goat cheese
- Cayenne pepper
- 1 large egg
- Favorite seals
Pizza with Cheese Crust
- 1 ½ cup (170 g) of mozzarella cut into strips
- 3 tablespoons (30 g) of spreadable cheese
- 1 egg
- 65 g of almond flour
- ½ teaspoon (10 g) of dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon (0.8 g) of dried basil
- Garlic salt (to sprinkle on the pizza)
Bocconcini Pizza with Zucchini
- 2 large courgettes
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Salt and Pepper To Taste.
- 60 ml of marinara sauce
- 115 g of mozzarella cut into strips
- Chunks of sausage or other cured meats for garnish (optional)
- Blend of rosemary, basil, thyme and oregano (to sprinkle on pizza)
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make a Cauliflower Crusted Pizza
Step 1. Cut off the head of the cauliflower to separate the buds
To begin, remove the core from the head. Take a sharp knife and pass it around the perimeter of the core, which is in the center of the head, to eliminate the hard core. Then, remove the smaller buds from the head simply using your hands and place them in the container of a food processor.
Step 2. Process the cauliflower with the food processor
Once you have placed all the buds in the container, close it with the lid provided. Press the pulse button to shred the buds. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times, then start blending the cauliflower. Let it finely grind.
Step 3. Put the ground cauliflower in a pot full of water
Move it from the food processor container to the pot with the help of a rubber spatula or spoon. Put the pot on the stove and add the water, which is needed to cook it.
Step 4. Cook the cauliflower over medium-high heat
Once you have poured the water in, adjust the heat to medium-high. The ground cauliflower should be cooked for about 5 or 6 minutes. Don't stray from the stove - stir the mixture constantly while cooking. As it cooks, add a pinch of salt (but you can also use larger amounts if you prefer a more salty dough).
Step 5. Let the mixture cool
After cooking for 5 to 6 minutes, remove the pot from the stove. You can simply turn off the heat and let it cool down gradually. If you are in a hurry, move it to an open window or place it in the refrigerator to speed up the process. It is important that the mixture cools down before continuing.
Step 6. Squeeze the water from the cauliflower
Once the mixture has cooled, place it on a cloth or clean cheesecloth. Grab the cloth at the corners and close it to form a kind of bag. Squeeze it firmly on the pot or sink to drain the water. Keep doing this until it is completely eliminated.
This step is the most important of the process. To get a compact, non-crumbling crust, you need to get rid of as much water as possible
Step 7. Mix the cauliflower, cayenne pepper, Parmesan, goat cheese, and egg
Drained the cauliflower, mix in the other ingredients. Put them all in a bowl. Mix them well with a rubber spatula or spoon. At the end of the procedure you should get a mixture similar to a dough.
Step 8. Press the dough onto a baking sheet
To start, line the baking sheet with wax paper. The dough can stick to aluminum foil, while waxed paper cannot. Knead until you get a ball and place it in the center of the pan. Press it with wet fingers to create a circle about 6 mm thick.
You can press your fingers around the perimeter of the dough to create a relief on the edge and make the crust look more like the traditional one
Step 9. Bake the cauliflower crust
Preheat the oven to 200 ° C. Set the timer for 40 minutes, which is usually the time it takes to cook the crust. However, keep an eye on it. It will be ready once it has acquired a golden color.
Step 10. Garnish the pizza
Once the crust has been taken out of the oven, turn it over carefully. In fact, you have to garnish the bottom side. While you season it, set the oven to 220 ° C. At this point you can customize it using all the ingredients you want.
You can make a classic pizza with mozzarella and tomato, but you can also experiment with other ingredients, such as cold cuts, barbecue sauce, pesto or white sauce
Step 11. Bake the pizza for 10 to 12 minutes
Take it out of the oven when it seems ready. The edges will become even more crisp with the second batch. Place it on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes before trying to cut it. In this way the crust can dry out slightly, preventing it from crumbling. Then, cut it up and serve it!
Method 2 of 3: Make a Cheese Crust Pizza
Step 1. Heat the mozzarella and spreadable cheese in the microwave
The exact time depends on the power of the appliance. The mozzarella and spreadable cheese should become soft and easy to work with. This usually takes about 30 seconds to do. If you've never tried this before, keep an eye on them and take them out of the microwave once they are soft enough.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220 ° C, so it can get hot as you make the dough
Step 2. Mix the melted cheeses, almond flour, egg, oregano and basil
Beat them in a bowl using a rubber spatula until you get a dough-like consistency. Then, work the mixture until you have a large sphere.
Step 3. Press the dough onto a baking sheet
Also in this case it is essential to cover the pan with waxed paper to prevent the dough from sticking. If you use aluminum foil, you run the risk of the mixture sticking to the bottom, ruining the preparation of the pizza. Press the dough until you get the shape you want.
Once the dough is worked, sprinkle it with olive or coconut oil and sprinkle it with garlic salt
Step 4. Bake the crust
Before putting it in the oven, prick the surface with a fork to prevent bubbles and yeast from forming. Bake it for 8 to 10 minutes, but keep an eye on it. If bubbles start to form, pierce the dough further. Take it out of the oven as soon as it takes on a golden color.
Try not to overcook and dry the crust. If you've never made it before, start with minimal cooking time
Step 5. Garnish the pizza
Before seasoning it, raise the oven temperature by adjusting it to 230 ° C. At this point, start customizing the pizza. You can use cheese and cured meats or make your own vegetarian. The choice is yours! Bake it again for 4 or 5 minutes and that's it. You will have made an easy, delicious and low-carb pizza.
Method 3 of 3: Prepare bite-sized Zucchini Pizza
Step 1. Cut the courgettes into slices
Buy large courgettes so the slices can be garnished easily. Try to get slices about 6mm thick, then spread them out on a baking sheet.
Step 2. Spray the courgettes with non-stick cooking spray
Lift a washer and spray it on both the front and back. Repeat with all slices. This is an important procedure to prevent them from sticking to the pan. Then, season with salt and pepper.
Step 3. Grid the washers
You can use the oven or a grill - choose the method you find easiest. Adjust the flame to medium-high heat. Set the timer for 2 minutes, then turn all washers. Grill it for another 2 minutes on the other side.
Step 4. Garnish the zucchini
Once grilled, arrange them on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. At this point you need to garnish them. Since they are small in size, it is advisable to use traditional toppings to recall the classic flavors of pizza, such as mozzarella and tomato sauce. You can also add cured meats or vegetables.
Step 5. Grill the garnished morsels for another 1 to 3 minutes
Once you have carefully garnished all the washers, bake them again for another couple of minutes. Keep an eye on them throughout cooking: if you don't pay attention, you risk ruining the morsels. Once the cheese has melted, take the pan out of the oven and sprinkle the herb mixture over the morsels. Serve them as an aperitif or at a party and you will see that you will make a great impression!
