Meat Lover’s Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

Even if you’re unconcerned about gluten- or grain-free recipes, this Meat Lover’s Pizza from Amy Lacey’s cookbook Cali’flour Kitchen: 125 Cauliflower-Based Recipes for the Carbs You Crave will tempt your taste buds. 

For Quick Bolognese Sauce
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large rib celery, minced
1 large carrot, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup dry red wine, white wine, or beef stock
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes with juices
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

For Pizza
1 Paleo Cali’flour Pizza Crust
1/2 cup Bolognese sauce
2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 ounce cooked firm sausage, thinly sliced and seared in a hot pan
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Fresh oregano and/or parsley for garnish

For Bolognese Sauce
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrot and cook until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, or until aromatic. Add the beef and cook, stirring and breaking up large pieces as you go, for about 15 minutes, until it is no longer pink and well browned on the bottom of the pot. Stir in the oregano, basil and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, scraping the bottom of the pan, and cook until it is mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the whole tomatoes, crushing them with your hands directly into the pot, then add the tomato juices, salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper if needed. Use as directed in your recipe, or cool and store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

For Pizza
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or get out your pizza pan and put your crust on it.

Spread the sauce over the crust and arrange the bacon and sausage on top. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, if using. Place in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until every¬thing is hot. Remove from the oven to a serving plate, top with oregano and/or parsley, then slice and serve.


Recipe and photo provided by Cali’flour Kitchen: 125 Cauliflower-Based Recipes for the Carbs You Crave by Amy Lacey. If you love this Meat Lover’s Pizza recipe, here’s another cauliflower-crust pizza you have to try.