There’s no denying that the almighty pizza has a foothold in our country’s food culture — and for good reason. Whether you order delivery or make it yourself, it’s a quick and easy meal for relaxing nights in and all sorts of celebrations. But this doughy delight also has a negative connotation attached to its convenience and tastiness: it’s been unfairly labeled as “unhealthy” by the general public.
We’re here to prove, one pizza at a time, that this beloved dish can actually be both healthy and tasty. It just takes the right ingredients, a little planning and a willingness to explore outside the norm. Let’s jump into our first recipe:
Cauliflower Chicken and Artichoke Pizza
One common complaint about traditional pizza is the large amount of carbs hiding in that doughy crust. In this recipe, we use a riced cauliflower crust to cut that out of the equation. Now you can make your own riced cauliflower, but for the sake of convenience (which is what pizza is all about, right?) we used a prepackaged and microwaveable option. Feel free to add or subtract toppings based on your personal taste, but here’s a run-down of the ingredients you’ll need:
Crust:
- 10 oz riced cauliflower
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup low-fat, shredded mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon grated asiago cheese
- A dash of black pepper
Toppings:
- 1 small jar (about 8 oz) of marinara sauce
- ½ cup low-fat, shredded mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon grated asiago cheese
- 1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts
- 1 thinly sliced tomato
- 1 cup cubed and seasoned chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons of sliced basil leaves
Have your pantry and fridge all stocked up and ready? OK, now onto the ol’ how-to portion of the recipe.
- Cube and season about one full chicken breast. Pan fry in olive oil until fully cooked.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Microwave or cook your riced cauliflower and drain all excess water.
- Combine cooked cauliflower, eggs, black pepper, mozzarella and asiago cheese in a medium bowl.
- Line a 21 x 21 x 5 pyrex baking dish with a baking sheet and pour mixture into dish. Spread evenly.
- Bake crust for 30 min or until solid and golden brown.
- Remove from oven and evenly spread around marinara sauce. Then evenly distribute mozzarella, asiago, artichoke hearts, tomato and chicken breast.
- Bake another 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and starts to brown.
- Remove from oven and top with sliced basil.
Now all that's left is to enjoy this nutritious and delicious take on a classic. Let us know how things tasted and be on the lookout for more pizza recipes coming soon. Until then, bon appetit!
