I have been doing that keto thing for quite a while now, and most of the time I have no problems staying on it. Occasionally I miss a particular food though. Lately I have been craving pizza. I am not a pizza connoisseur by any means and it has never been one of my go-to comfort foods, but occasionally I just want it, or, at the very least, the flavors of pizza.
After researching all of the ways to make an acceptable keto pizza and had making the fathead dough (which tastes and feels remarkably like a true pizza crust), but it requires a lot of cheese and I had rather have my cheese as a topping than as a crust. A few recipes later I had a fairly good idea about how to format the base layer. (A recipe is just a suggestion, and subject to change.) As for the pizza toppings, I have no idea why anyone would need a recipe for that. You just put whatever you like, or have on hand, or made a special trip to the store to buy.
I was stymied about the pizza sauce. I needed one that has no sugar added, but tasted like a real pizza sauce. I could have stopped at the store and grabbed a jar of Rao's pizza sauce, but it is nearly 8 bucks a jar. Uh, no thanks! After googling and finding several recipes I chose this one at I Breathe, I'm Hungry mainly because it required no cooking. It made a tasty sauce (add a little more garlic powder and some finely chopped rosemary to make it perfect) and all it took was a quick whirl in the blender. (Plus, I have enough sauce for 2 more "pizzas" living in the freezer) I am not posting the recipe here since I added the link and used the exact recipe.
Crustless Pizza
For the base layer
1 large head cauliflower, cut into small pieces (zap in the microwave til soft then press out as much moisture as you can. I did not do this step. Learn from my mistake)
1/3 cup EV olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
In a large bowl mix all together. Spray a 9x13 pan with non stick spray and press the mixture in the bottom. Bake at 350 until set (about 15 or so minutes)
8 ounces grated mozzarella (divided)
Pizza Sauce of choice (there are some very tasty jarred sauces out there, or make your own)
Pizza toppings of choice. I used browned ground beef, onions, red peppers, mushrooms and cheese because I had them on hand.
Spread the base with half the grated cheese followed by pizza sauce, add the toppings of choice, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and return to the oven for about 10 minutes until everything is nice and bubbly. I decided the oven time was not going to be long enough to cook the onions, peppers and mushrooms, so after browning the ground beef for the pizza I tossed them in the same pan and wilted them. It worked perfectly.
The verdict: We loved the flavor. After the first bite TheHub declared it was delicious. It tasted like we were eating pizza, but the consistency was not pizzaish. I will make this again, but I might add another egg and a little coconut flour to the base layer just to give it a little extra firmness. We will probably have this once a month to satisfy any pizza craving and still keeping it keto for me.
Upside? Leftovers for lunch!
After researching all of the ways to make an acceptable keto pizza and had making the fathead dough (which tastes and feels remarkably like a true pizza crust), but it requires a lot of cheese and I had rather have my cheese as a topping than as a crust. A few recipes later I had a fairly good idea about how to format the base layer. (A recipe is just a suggestion, and subject to change.) As for the pizza toppings, I have no idea why anyone would need a recipe for that. You just put whatever you like, or have on hand, or made a special trip to the store to buy.
I was stymied about the pizza sauce. I needed one that has no sugar added, but tasted like a real pizza sauce. I could have stopped at the store and grabbed a jar of Rao's pizza sauce, but it is nearly 8 bucks a jar. Uh, no thanks! After googling and finding several recipes I chose this one at I Breathe, I'm Hungry mainly because it required no cooking. It made a tasty sauce (add a little more garlic powder and some finely chopped rosemary to make it perfect) and all it took was a quick whirl in the blender. (Plus, I have enough sauce for 2 more "pizzas" living in the freezer) I am not posting the recipe here since I added the link and used the exact recipe.
Crustless Pizza
For the base layer
1 large head cauliflower, cut into small pieces (zap in the microwave til soft then press out as much moisture as you can. I did not do this step. Learn from my mistake)
1/3 cup EV olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
In a large bowl mix all together. Spray a 9x13 pan with non stick spray and press the mixture in the bottom. Bake at 350 until set (about 15 or so minutes)
8 ounces grated mozzarella (divided)
Pizza Sauce of choice (there are some very tasty jarred sauces out there, or make your own)
Pizza toppings of choice. I used browned ground beef, onions, red peppers, mushrooms and cheese because I had them on hand.
Spread the base with half the grated cheese followed by pizza sauce, add the toppings of choice, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and return to the oven for about 10 minutes until everything is nice and bubbly. I decided the oven time was not going to be long enough to cook the onions, peppers and mushrooms, so after browning the ground beef for the pizza I tossed them in the same pan and wilted them. It worked perfectly.
The verdict: We loved the flavor. After the first bite TheHub declared it was delicious. It tasted like we were eating pizza, but the consistency was not pizzaish. I will make this again, but I might add another egg and a little coconut flour to the base layer just to give it a little extra firmness. We will probably have this once a month to satisfy any pizza craving and still keeping it keto for me.
Upside? Leftovers for lunch!
I bet it's even better the next day.
ReplyDeleteI have not had it yet because I am eating other leftovers. It probably will be though.
DeleteSounds delicious! My daughter uses cauliflower in so many things.
ReplyDeleteMe too and it works for so many things!
DeleteI have not made a pizza for myself, but I have had it made twice for me. (I told you I was spoiled) My DIL made the one you just described with the cauliflower crust when she invited me to a birthday party she was throwing for my son. She ordered take-out pizza for the rest of the guests. When it was time for me to leave, she was going to send the leftovers home with me, but discovered that the other guests had polished it off, leaving the take-out pizzas alone. They obviously preferred the homemade version.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter also made one for me with the fathead crust. That was so yummy!!! And I DID get the leftovers, and the recipe. Just haven't tried it yet.
To me the fathead crust tastes like regular pizza. Good for getting the leftovers! I will make it again, but will also use the cauliflower casserole one because it is a little quicker to make.
DeleteI get a pizza craving every couple of months! Along with a hamburger craving, a doughnut craving, hot dog craving, etc., etc., etc.! LOL. The cauliflower crust sounds interesting! I need to branch out a bit more and try cauliflower in different ways.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid I am going to turn into a cauliflower because I eat so much of it.
DeleteThere is no craving I have not craved, except beets, bananas, and liver. I will not eat those much less crave them!
I only like cauliflower raw so not likely I will go on a keto diet anytime soon...however that does look tasty and a total win because you and your hubby got to eat the same thing - and he liked it!
ReplyDeleteI have made several things lately we both can eat and enjoy. It is a super win!
DeleteIt sounds delicious. I was thinking of making cauliflower in a new way, and I'm going to try to recipe. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteAnytime. I eat so much cauliflower it is crazy!
DeleteI love pizza but don't eat it too often because it isn't exactly healthy but this looks good.
ReplyDeleteIt was very good. I would recommend it to anyone, unless they detest cauliflower.
Deletesounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty good but I have satisfied my pizza craving for a while.
DeleteWell, it looks delicious!! I did a low carb diet last year when I was participating in Scale Back Alabama. I lost 13 pounds in 10 weeks, but over time it all came back. :-( Dieting and/or changing one's way of eating forever is a really hard thing to do, especially for people like me who don't like to cook. I have a friend that's coming to visit in April and she listed all the stuff she can't eat because she's doing Keto. It's very depressing and I don't know what to feed her, but I might try this.
ReplyDeleteKeto is really easy to do/prepare once you start. Grilled chicken and a salad is a great keto meal. Just keep it simple and easy for yourself!
DeleteI almost order a pizza from a local place that we pick up -- they make a better one than I can. This looks terrific, though -- need to try this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty dang tasty, and even better reheated
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