Everyone these days is gluten-free, low-carb and, in general, trying to keep off that pesky winter weight. Pasta bakes, casseroles and meat-heavy stews are too tempting to turn down in the cold weather. I came across an easy solution that seemed too good to be true, so I just had to try it out. It combines a winter seasonal ingredient with the one food no one can turn down: pizza. Cauliflower crust pizza is something I kept coming across on Pinterest and Instagram, and if everyone was raving I didn’t want to be left out in the cold.

Here’s how it works: you use a combination of shredded cauliflower, cheese and egg to form a simple crust, and then use the toppings of your choice to finish it off. Sounds crazy? I got my recipe from a friend who recommended it…from Paula Deen. That’s right, the Butter Queen herself is apparently trying to cut carbs. I simplified the recipe a bit because there is no need to  do all that manual labor with a box grater when you can just use a food processor.

My pizza was actually a hit, and I have to admit it tasted good. In my opinion, there aren’t many things with that cheese-tomato sauce combination that I don’t love, though. However, I’m not totally sold on the concept. If you’re gluten-free, this is absolutely the perfect solution. It’s also a great way to get in those veggies if you really don’t care for cauliflower since most of what you’re tasting is cheese. But I can’t exactly say this is a super healthy option since it does have so much cheese. Using a fat-free cheese would likely result in a rubbery texture, although a low-fat mozzarella might work fine.

My biggest problem with this pizza is that it lacks that ideal crunch that you can get from even a simple toasted tortilla pizza. You can make the cauliflower crust as thin as you can so the outside caramelizes a bit and to prevent it from getting too soft. In my opinion, roasted cauliflower is one of the most delicious winter vegetables, and it shouldn’t be hidden this way. Toss your cauliflower in some simple herbs and lemon juice and roast until browned to get it just right. And order yourself a deep dish pie while you’re at it – hold the sausage since March is going to be a healthy month.

Get the full Gluten-Free Cauliflower Crust Pizza recipe here >

–Marly Schuman