When we think ‘pizza’, a certain European country is bound to spring to mind, but it’s not just the dish itself we have Italy to thank for. Some of the most incredible meats and cheeses you can buy are produced on Italian soil, which in turn makes for some of the dreamiest pizza toppings around.
For this recipe, I’ve used flavour-packed Grana Padano hard cheese along with sweetly succulent Prosciutto di San Daniele – two high quality, exceptionally delicious Italian ingredients that combine beautifully in texture and flavour.
Prosciutto di San Daniele and Grana Padano Cheese have both been recognised by the European Union as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products since 1996, which means they meet very stringent specifications, coming from a strictly defined geographical area and being produced using distinctive processing techniques steeped in the history and tradition of that place. In this way, the PDO logo is an independent mark of authenticity which guarantees high quality and traceability.
Cauliflower crust!
Yes! That golden, delicious base you see above is in fact made with a surprising ingredient: cauliflower! Flavoured with more of that gorgeous Grana Padano and combined with eggs to bind, the result is a delightfully bread-like base, with crispy edges and a delicate flavour.
For sweetness, the base is spread with a simple basil and cherry tomato sauce, while salty olives with peppery rocket further compliment the ruffled roses of Prosciutto di San Daniele and dainty shavings of Grana Padano.
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower head
- 1 large egg
- 60g (2 oz) Grana Padano
- 300g (10.5 oz) cherry tomatoes
- 1 handful fresh basil
- 1 tbsp of olive oil (plus more to dress, if desired)
- 1 handful rocket
- 1 handful black olives
- 4 slices Prosciutto di San Daniele
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Cut and floret the cauliflower, then tip into a food processor.
Blitz the cauliflower until fine. You may need to scrape the sides down once or twice as you go.
Put the cauliflower into a dry frying pan over a medium-low heat and dry fry for around 15 minutes until all excess water is gone. Keep an eye on it and keep stirring, as it can burn easily once the moisture starts to escape. Set aside to cool completely.
When the cauliflower has cooled, place it a mixing bowl along with two thirds of the Grana Padano finely grated and the egg.
Mix well until evenly combined, then tip onto the centre of a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Press the mixture out to form an oblong about 1/2 cm thick, using your hands to shape, then press down firmly over the whole base.
Bake for 30-35 minutes at 180C/355F (160C/320F fan).
Flip the base over carefully and bake for a further 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, slice the cherry tomatoes into quarters and add them to a frying pan along with the chopped basil, olive oil and 1 tbsp of water.
Cook on a medium-low heat for about 10 minutes until the sauce reduces.
When the cauliflower base is ready, transfer to a board and spread with the tomato sauce.
Sprinkle with rocket.
Tear the Prosciutto slices in half lengthways, form into rose-like bundles and add to the pizza.
Next, scatter over the olives, and shave the remaining Grana Padano on top generously.
Drizzle a little balsamic glaze, if desired, season with salt and pepper, cut into slices and enjoy!
What are your favourite Italian pizza toppings?
If you want to to make this gorgeous low carb cauliflower crust pizza for yourself then the recipe is shown again below in an easy, printable format. Just hit the grey ‘PRINT’ button in the recipe card below.
Grana Padano and Prosciutto di San Daniele cauliflower crust pizza
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower head
- 1 large egg
- 60 g 2 oz Grana Padano
- 300 g 10.5 oz cherry tomatoes
- 1 handful fresh basil
- 1 tbsp of olive oil plus more to dress, if desired
- 1 handful rocket
- 1 handful black olives
- 4 slices Prosciutto di San Daniele
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
-
Cut and floret the cauliflower and place it in a blender.
-
Blitz the cauliflower until fine.
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Put the cauliflower into a frying pan and dry fry for around 15 minutes until all excess water is gone. Keep an eye on it, and keep stirring, as it can burn easily.
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While you leave the cauliflower to cool cut up the cherry tomatoes and add them to a frying pan along with the chopped basil, 1 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tbsp of water.
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Cook on a medium-low heat for 15 minutes until the sauce reduces.
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When the cauliflower has cooled place it a mixing bowl along with 2/3 Grana Padano finely grated and the egg.
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Mix well and place on the centre of a baking tray lined with baking paper.
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Press the mixture out to the edges of the tray using your hands to shape, then press down firmly over the whole base.
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Bake for 35 minutes at 180C/355F (160C/320F fan).
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Flip the base over and give it another 10 minutes in the oven.
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Place on to a board and add the tomato sauce.
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Sprinkle with rocket.
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Fold the Prosciutto into bundles and add.
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Sprinkle over olives, shave the remaining Grana Padano and dot around the pizza.
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Drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the pizza and cut into slices. Enjoy!
Let me know if you make it!
If you loved this delicious cauliflower crust pizza, why not have a read through the 15 best cauliflower recipes on the web?
This is a commissioned post for the Consortium Prosciutto di San Daniele & the Consortium Grana Padano.
Anne Kepner says
Your recipe for pizza sounds so great! Because you used two high quality Italian ingredients, its taste would be delicious and smell would be so good!
Linh B says
This recipe looks so good to me! Thanks for sharing with us <3
Lubka Henry says
This is such a cool idea to use cauliflower as a pizza base. This must be tried at home!!
Kira says
Wow this looks delicious! I definitely need to get myself a food processor because last time I tried to make cauliflower crust it didn’t work very well!
Jenni says
Wow this looks incredible. I never would have thought of a cauli crust!
emma white says
oh my this looks and sounds amazing I am going to have to give this a try out for myself for sure
Leanne Dolan says
I absolutely love pizza and probably do eat far too much of it. (not joking i have at least 2 pizzas a week) I’ve always been intriegued by the cauliflower pizza crust, but I’m a bit of a whimp and don’t know if i could bring myself to eat it knowing it wasn’t a proper base!!
Dannii says
I love cauliflower crust pizza and that balsamic glaze just looks delicious.
shannon ritchie says
I have heard so many good things about cauliflower pizza! This looks like a yummy recipe!
Rebecca Smith says
I’ve never tried cauliflower crust so I’m definitely going to have to give this a go – looks delicious!
Francesca says
I absolutely LOVE making cauliflour crust and I’m suddenly feeling very hungry again!
Sally Akins says
I absolutely love the topping you’ve used on this pizza, especially the Prosciutto! I’ve never tried a cauliflower crust though, it certainly looks good
Fashion and Style Police says
This sounds very tasty. I will be trying this recipe.
hannah says
I love pizza and this one does look very good. Thanks for sharing x
Nayna Kanabar says
I love the sound of this pizza especially the cauliflower crust.
Sarah says
This looks amazing! Ive heard of cauliflower pizza’s before, but never knew how it was done!
Janet Yarwood says
How can something sound so wrong but look so right? I would never ask for a pizza made with cauliflower but this looks amazing. I’m very tempted to give it a try
Stephanie Merry says
I love the idea of this! Never thought of using cauliflower as a pizza base before x
Tanya says
I would be all over that Grana Padano and the Proscuitto but personally I’m not a cauliflower lover. My mum however is obsessed with it and loves making pizza from scratch so I’ll definitely be sending her this recipe
Emily Leary says
You don’t really taste the cauliflower, weirdly. Hope your mum enjoys :D
Ana De- Jesus says
I have been dying to try cauliflower crust pizza for ages and this version looks like a slice of heaven mmm!
Rhian Westbury says
This sounds like exactly my kind of pizza but I’ve never tried making a cauliflour pizza before x
Sarah Bailey says
Yum, this pizza looks like such a delicious and healthy dish. I am so intrigued by the many ways cauliflower is being used to sub in as a healthier alternative in so many recipes now.
Harriet from Toby & Roo says
Oh gawdddd this looks insanely good! I really need to have something like this in my life – I’m trying to cut carbs!
Susanna | Ordinality says
How is that base so perfect?!! I’ve tried cauliflower crust a few times, but just never get it right. I love the combo of toppings as well, but seriously obsessed with that base!
Megan at Lush to Blush says
This sounds delicious and the presentation is beautiful!!
Joanna says
I shouldn’t have looked at your article right before dinner. The pizza looks amazing and I am intrigued by the cauliflower and parmigiano base. It must be so crunchy and delicious!