COOKING with CANNABIS
Making Cauliflower Pizza Crust
by Chef Dana Cunningham
Happy October ! With the weather changing , I have been getting ready to wrap up my outdoor gardening for the season . I am , however , so glad that I planted some fall crops in August . Now , I ’ ve harvested my cauliflower , and I ’ m making pizza with it ! I am sure you have heard of cauliflower crusts and maybe tried some . This month , I ’ ll share my cauliflower crust recipe , farm-to-table style .
I love this crust because it is not only healthy but also gluten-free . It ’ s not every day that I get to make this ! With the cauliflower we grow , we can harvest all at once and then make pre-made crusts that go into the freezer until we are ready to use them . These crusts are perfect to have around when you want something easy and quick for dinner . Of course , the infusion is not in every crust . I suggest you simply brush the crust with an infused oil just before baking to make an adult-use infused pizza .
I also like to make other things with our cauliflower , like dumplings and cauliflower puree , so I usually roast some and hold it in the freezer for later use .
I will use a marinara I canned last summer with my home-grown tomatoes for the sauce . I will break into my pre-dried parsley , oregano , basil , and thyme for the Italian seasoning mixed into the crust . This pizza is going to be fantastic !
Cauliflower is actually very easy to grow . You can grow it directly in soil , or you can use a container . I have grown some in our garden outdoors , and I also have some planted in grow bags in our greenhouse . The only thing you really must worry about is bugs ! They love anything with edible leaves . So I like to spread cauliflower around in my garden — meaning , I don ’ t want it in rows all together ; instead , I sprinkle it around the garden with other plants . I do this with most of my leafy green plants just to make sure that if a bug does get on one , hopefully , my whole crop is not devastated all at once . I also grow my kale and collard greens this way . Spreading plants out increases your chances for a good harvest .
Cauliflower Pizza Crust Ingredients
2 lb . bag of frozen cauliflower rice 1 large egg 1 tablespoon of infused olive oil or MCT oil 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 / 8 tsp salt ¼ tsp ground pepper ½ cup mozzarella cheese Additional cheese and whatever toppings you want to put on !
( Photo of my single-serve cauliflower crust pizza .)
The Method
1 . Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place parchment paper on a baking sheet .
2 . Bake the riced cauliflower on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 15 minutes .
3 . Remove cauliflower from the oven and place in a double-lined cheesecloth draped over a bowl . Let sit for about 15 minutes or until cool to touch .
4 . Wrap the cheesecloth into a ball and squeeze out as much liquid from the cauliflower as possible . 5 . Set the oven temperature to 450 degrees . 6 . In a medium mixing bowl , whisk egg , Italian seasoning , salt , and pepper until frothy , about 20 seconds , then add the cheese and cauliflower .
7 . Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop the dough onto it , forming a ball .
8 . Flatten the dough to the desired thickness ; it should be about 10 inches round . 9 . Brush the infused oil on the top and bottom of the flattened crust . 10 . Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes , then carefully flip the crust over and bake for another 5 minutes . 11 . Add your toppings and bake until the cheese on top is golden and melted . 12 . Cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy .
Whether you use your own garden-grown cauliflower for your pizza crust or store-bought cauliflower , this crust is quite yummy with any pizza . Give it a try .
Dana Cunningham is a Kansas City Native trained in French and American cuisine . She owns Infused KC , Kansas City ’ s CBD infusion think tank and focuses her culinary efforts on the farm-to-table concept at her four-acre homestead . She provides cooking classes in Kearney , MO . Follow her on Facebook , @ infusedkcmo or YouTube @ sunsetgrovekearney . Get your CBD at , www . infusedkc . com .
42 October 2023