Delightful Guilt Free Pizza

It’s easy to ignore the greasy calories contained in a few good slices of pizza, but while our minds forget, our waistlines do not! If you’re tired of over-greased pizza but crave the delicious flavours, you don’t have to go without. For a hearty meal, give these healthy alternative pizza bases and toppings a try—they are sure to leave you satisfied.

Makes: 1 pizza
Time: 50mins (fancy meat lovers option) or 1hr 15mins (veggie delight option)

Ingredients

Pizza base:
1 medium cauliflower 
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg

Fancy meat lovers toppings:
4 slices prosciutto 
4 slices ham
3 button mushrooms
150g buffalo mozzarella
2 tablespoons tomato paste 
Parsley, to garnish

Veggie delight toppings:
500g pumpkin (cut into 2cm cubes)
100g marinated feta cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 handful spinach, to serve
1 dollop natural Greek yoghurt, to serve
Extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle

Cauliflower base method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Remove the stem of the cauliflower and cut into small, bite-sized florets.
3. Place florets in a food processor/blender and whiz until finely chopped.
4. Place chopped cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, cover and microwave for 10 minutes or until soft.
5. Drain the cauliflower with a sieve to remove excess liquid.
6. Add the cauliflower, egg and parmesan to a large bowl.
7. Mix with a wooden spoon to combine.
8. Cover a large pizza tray with baking paper and press cauliflower mixture firmly onto the tray, making sure to spread it evenly.
9. Bake base for 20 minutes or until golden.
10. Add your desired toppings to the pizza and serve. See below for topping options.

Fancy meat lovers topping option:

1. Place tomato paste onto the partially cooked pizza base and spread evenly with the back of a spoon.
2. Slice up the ham, prosciutto and mushroom and add to the pizza.
3. Top pizza with sliced mozzarella.
4. Return the pizza to the oven for 5 minutes or until top is slightly golden.
5. Garnish with chopped parsley to serve. 

Veggie delight topping option:

1. Put the partially cooked pizza base to the side and keep oven on at 180°C.
2. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
3. Place the chopped pumpkin onto the lined tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with nutmeg.
4. Bake for 25 minutes.
5. Crumble the marinated feta onto the partially cooked pizza base and spread roughly with the back of a spoon.
6. Top pizza with the roasted pumpkin, pine nuts and parmesan.
7. Return the pizza to the oven for 5 minutes or until top is slightly golden.
8. Garnish with spinach and a dollop of natural yoghurt to serve.

Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labour. We’ve taken out the calories – if only we could handle the cleaning too... The good news is we can! Simply pop your plates and cutlery into the dishwasher and let Finish Quantum Max handle it all.