I am so tardy to the cauliflower crust pizza party. I've been reading about this magical pizza crust for years, but until a few weeks ago, I had never tried it myself. So I sought out the original cauliflower pizza crust recipe and gave it a go.
It looks almost like a giant omelet, right? Chris and I both liked the crust, but in a different way than we were expecting to like it. I guess I thought the cauliflower would transform into something more bread-like after baking. It does not. It's a lot flatter and thinner than a traditional crust, although you can pick it up and it stays together.
(Oh, and sorry, I'm not republishing the crust recipe here. You're going to have to go to Your Lighter Side for that. People seem to have taken this blogger's recipe and completely removed her blog as the source and as a fellow food blogger, this bugs me immensely!)
And then since I was already feeling adventurous with my fancy new pizza crust, I thought I'd try topping my pizza with lemons. Yes, lemons! I had seen it done a few times and my first reaction was revulsion. Lemons on pizza? That is wrong. But I love lemons and the idea kind of stuck in my head. Could lemons really work as a pizza topping?
Well, the secret is to slice them really thin--almost shaved. That way, you still get the tartness of the lemon without it completely distracting from the rest of the pizza (or being tough to bite through). I wouldn't use it on a pizza made with tomato sauce; this particular pizza was inspired by gremolata, which is a combination of parsley, garlic, and lemon. I used the parsley and garlic combo instead of a sauce, added some parmesan cheese, and then topped the whole thing with the thinly sliced lemons. So tasty! Lemon is now up there with pineapple and green olives on my favorite pizza topping list.
If you don't have the time or desire to make a cauliflower crust, this would work on any thin pizza crust, store-bought or homemade. But if you haven't tried the cauliflower crust yet, you really should (whether or not you top it with lemons).
This post was originally published on April 25, 2013.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 prepared pizza crust I used a cauliflower crust, omitting the fennel seeds
- ⅓ c. chopped parsley
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- ¾ c. shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 small lemon thinly sliced (use a mandoline slicer, if you have one)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine parsley, garlic, and olive oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle mixture onto pizza crust, leaving a 1-inch margin around the edge. Top with cheese and lemon slices. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and lemons have softened.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
That crust is stunning and I just wrote yesterday in my post that I'm not a big crust person but you have just changed me 🙂
Kiersten says
When I was a kid, I used to only eat the crust on pizzas--I LOVE the crust. 🙂
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
I love this one. I still haven't tried the cauliflower crust but need to. And this lemon gremolata...genius for pizza topping!
Caitlin says
i've been wanting to try cauliflower pizza crust for a while now, too. i must experiment with different binders since eggs are obviously out. and i love that you topped it with lemons! it looks superb.
Kiersten says
If you figure it out, let me know! After making this, I tried to do a vegan version and it was so bad. But I omitted the cheese. Maybe something like Daiya would be better than omitting it altogether?
Kristina says
I JUST made a pizza with lemon veggies on it. our brains are beginning to meld...
also? I LOVE that you linked to the original cauliflower recipe. class act, you are.
Kiersten says
Ooh, are you posting it?! Seriously, lemon is the last thing I would ever think to add to a pizza but it is SO GOOD.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I haven't tried the whole cauliflower crust thing yet but I want to. This looks delish!
Kiersten says
Oh, you totally need to! It is good!
Joy says
I have tried a few different cauliflower crust recipes, but they just never really work out for me, I love the idea, but they always fall apart. I'll have to try this one out because your crust looks perfect! Also, love how you gave credit where credit was due. Way to go.
And lemons? I am intrigued....love pizza...love lemons...you may be on to something.
Kiersten says
I was so afraid this would fall apart, especially with how thin it was, but it was really sturdy--even after a lot of moving around for photos. 🙂
Patricia says
This looks awesome! I've been wanting to try the cauliflower crust, and adding the lemons? Must be amazing!
Thanks!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
I am very curious about this cauliflower crust. I bake pizza quite often and I like to experiment with toppings. I have my favorite recipe for a pizza crust and never thought of trying something new. This is a new challenge for me 🙂
Kiersten says
You should definitely try it! It's very different from regular flour-based crust, but we liked it a lot.
dixya@food, pleasure, and health says
i attempted cauliflower crust pizza once- major fail and scared from it. However, I am going to have to give it a try once more try 🙂 lemon on pizza sounds differently but fresh, summery.
Kiersten says
I was really surprised at how well it turned out! I was so afraid it would fall apart.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What a tasty pizza! Love the cauliflower crust idea.
Alexandra @ Delicious Knowledge says
Yum! I just saw a cauliflower crust recipe on Carrie on Vegan yesterday and made a mental note that I really NEED to try it. Your recipe convinced me to do it sooner rather than later! Love the idea of lemons... interesting flavor combo.
Kiersten says
Oh, I'll have to find that recipe! After I made this pizza, I tried experimenting with making a vegan cauliflower crust and it was quite the disaster.
Alecia says
I was just looking at recipes for cauliflower crust pizzas yesterday & wanted to give it a try but none of the recipes really jumped out at me. The lemon gremolata topping took me from "interesting concept" to "tonight's dinner "! Thanks Kiersten!
Kiersten says
I hope you like it! 😀
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
This pizza is gorgeous! I have not tried the cauliflower crust although I have seen it multiple times before. I love the lemons on it with the parsley and garlic it's definitely a winning combination! Recipes like this are why you are writing a cookbook! Congrats by the way 😉
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Gorgeous gorgeous pizza! Love the lemon as toppings 🙂
And kudos for crediting the source appropriately. It makes me mad when people take content and don't credit at all. Bugs me.
Kiersten says
Yeah, it bugs me too. I have had it happen way too often. Or people change one ingredient and then think that makes it okay not to credit. Sigh.
Jamie Saal VanEaton says
Hi! Thank you so much for the shout out to my pizza crust. Yours looks hella delish. I want! WANT! Waaannnntttttt!
*sob*
*a little*
By the way, your site is super fun and cute.
Jamie
Cauliflower Crust Mama at Your Lighter Side
Kiersten says
Thank you for the awesome recipe! I can't believe it took me so long to finally try it, but I'm glad I did! 😀
Richa says
oooh lemons on the pizza look awesome! totally agree about how everything on the interwebs is used without much credit.
Kiersten says
Yup! I even had a newspaper reprint one of my photos without credit and tell me it was okay because they found it on Google. It boggles the mind!
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
I love that you are so respectful of other bloggers recipes! So few bloggers do that. You're the best.
Kiersten says
It just bothers me when a recipe is all over Pinterest and then suddenly it becomes Pinterest's recipe. "Oh, I made this pizza, I got the cauliflower crust idea from Pinterest." I think we've all had that happen to some of our recipes. I've seen this one all over the place and I've never seen it credited properly.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
How seriously amazing is cauliflower pizza crust?!? I love the unique toppings that you chose for this pizza, too! 🙂
Ellie @ Ginger Bear Kitchen says
I've been seeing cauliflower pizza crust recipes pop up all over but haven't tried it yet. I'm not a huge cauliflower person but I loved using it as the base for my alfredo sauce to make it healthier. I'm going to have to give it a try in my pizza crust too.
Kiersten says
I love cauliflower so maybe I'm biased, but I think you still might like this crust. I don't think it's very cauliflower-y, especially once you put all the toppings on it.
Robin Gagnon {Mom Foodie} says
I ADORE lemon pizza. Usually with nuts, pungent cheese & gah'lic .
I have yet to make a cauliflower pizza crust. I always get sidetracked and the cauliflower turns into something else. Attention span of a gnat over here 😛
Kiersten says
You need to give it a try--I bet you will come up with something awesome to put on it! 😀
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
I've never tried lemon on pizza before but it sounds really good! As for the cauliflower crust, I've tried it but I don't know if I just didn't add enough toppings or what, but it wasn't very filling.
Kiersten says
Yeah, it's definitely not as filling as a flour crust!
Suja Md says
Wow..Lemon as pizza topping..beautiful combo!!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
The veggie crust sounds really fascinating, Kiersten. And lemon as pizza topping...that's just so creative!
mjskit says
Thank cauliflower crust looks amazing and the lemon gremolata - well - AWESOME! What a great pizza!
Mirjam Leslie-Pringle says
Ow wow! That looks amazing! There is nothing so good as the thinnest pizzacrust ever! For sure will try!