Health starts in the kitchen |
 No celebration is the same without some pizza—whether it’s featured at your football-viewing party or a family get-together, there’s no arguing with the fact that pizza unites people in a way few other foods can. But even your favorite staple can get boring eventually, I mean how many times really can you eat the exact same pepperoni pizza from the exact same pizza place without getting tired of it? Plus, with more people becoming vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, providing a fan-favorite that’ll satisfy everybody is becoming more and more difficult. So, to spice things up, here’s a buffalo cauliflower pizza recipe with fresh, healthy ingredients for everyone to enjoy.  Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza Recipe 1. Buffalo Cauliflower To begin making your pizza, start by preparing the most important ingredient: the buffalo cauliflower. Cut florets off one head of cauliflower and place these into a bag with two cloves of diced garlic, one bottle of Frank’s buffalo sauce, and salt. Mix all of these ingredients until the cauliflower is thoroughly coated, and then refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight if you’re planning ahead. When you’re ready to bake the cauliflower, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay out the coated cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes or until the cauliflower is slightly charred. Although classifying foods as “healthy” and “unhealthy” is arbitrary and a little of everything can be good for the body or soul in moderation, choosing cauliflower as the staple topping for your pizza sure does have its health benefits. Cauliflower is high in fiber and B-vitamins, in addition to providing antioxidants. Combined, these compounds allow it to strengthen bones or boost cardiovascular health [1]. Still not convinced that putting this vegetable that looks a little too much like the broccoli you probably hated in your childhood on a pizza? It’s all in the seasoning—between the spices and Frank’s buffalo sauce, the subtle, neutral taste of cauliflower blends right in. Plus, it has the perfect texture to bake to a perfect crisp, creating the ideal vessel for the delicious seasoning.  2. Ranch Combine ½ cup of raw cashews, ¼ cup of plain full-fat yogurt (or sub your favorite non-dairy yogurt), one clove of garlic, 2 tsp of Dijon mustard, 1 tsp of maple syrup, 1 tsp dried dill, ¼ cup of water, and a dash of salt and pepper to taste in a blender or food processor. Mix this until it’s a smooth, dressing consistency and then set it aside to chill. The addition of ranch can be a deal-breaker for people who are vegan—or people who just don’t like ranch. But, as you might know, homemade is always better, so this is a great option that features only fresh ingredients that you can actually pronounce and can be made vegan-friendly. 3. Almond Flour Crust Combine 2 cups of almond flour, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp of melted coconut oil, 2 tablespoons of agave or honey, and a dash of cinnamon—then mix thoroughly. Keep this dough refrigerated until you’re ready to mold it. When you’re ready, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, roll the dough into a softball-sized ball and place it on parchment paper on a flat surface. Using your hands or a rolling pin, shape the dough into your desired shape, keeping it about ¼ inch thick. If you’re having trouble shaping the dough, place an additional piece of parchment paper on top before using a rolling pin or wet your hands before shaping the dough to reduce stickiness. Once everything is ready, place the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until the edges are golden. Like ranch, pizza dough can create issues for individuals who are sensitive to gluten, but gluten-free alternatives often lose textural or flavor elements. This crust tries to avoid some of that and should create the perfect complement to the rest of your pizza—while forming a base that, again, everyone can enjoy.  4. Putting It All Together Once your crust is done baking, it’s time to start building your creation. Start by evenly spreading the ranch onto the dough and covering it with a cup of cheese—the Whole Foods pizza blend is a great option for this, but you can also opt for a non-dairy cheese blend if you’re hoping to cater to lactose intolerant or vegan guests. Next, place the buffalo cauliflower evenly on the pizza. Top it off with a sprinkle of red onion, and it’s time to pop the pizza back in the oven where you’’ bake it for an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Once your pizza is finished baking, remove it and set the oven to BROIL. Then, drizzle agave or honey around the outside of the crust and broil for about two minutes, making the crust just the right amount of sweet—the best way to enjoy it. Top it off with chopped parsley, and it’s ready to serve at your next event!  Spicing Up Your Next Event
The classics are always a great choice, but with the preferences of your guests changing—or maybe even your preferences changing, maybe it’s time to spice things up with a new recipe that everyone can enjoy. This option is great for individuals with or without dietary restrictions, and most importantly, it features healthy local ingredients, so you know exactly where your food is coming from. It might taste delicious, but bet you can’t say the same about that slice of pepperoni pizza from your favorite chain. Like people always say, change is good, and when that change also means nourishing your body with high-quality food, it’s even better. So, next time you’re hosting a get-together and start planning a list of pizza orders, change things up with this buffalo cauliflower pizza recipe that is sure to become a favorite.
1 Comment
1/1/2023 08:40:18 pm
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing your recipe. Would love to make one soon. Where did you get your ingredients? Any particular store? Leave a Reply. |