I have such a strange
addiction to cauliflower lately – don’t ask me why! I have like five
cauliflower heads in my fridge and they all have a purpose.
I have been eating
ketogenic lately (with bananas as a treat because y’know… bananas are
delicious). I can’t even explain how much better I have been feeling mentally
and physically eating both ketogenic and meat-free. It is hard though, I will
admit to find recipes that are compliant to both and there’s many nights I find
myself eating pre-made cauliflower mash, steamed mixed vegetables and asparagus
for supper. Mind you, it’s all delicious still.
Today I decided to
share my three favourite ketogenic cauliflower recipes – cauliflower crust
pizza, spicy cauliflower bites and cauliflower and cheese (mac and cheese but
with cauliflower instead). Personally I find myself eating the cauliflower
pizza and cauliflower and cheese more, however, the spicy cauliflower bites are
delicious, too. I quite often sit down on a Thursday night with cauliflower
bites and keto mozza sticks for How to Get Away With Murder.
Cauliflower crust pizza
Unfortunately, the
pizza above had seen better days after I forgot to take it out of the oven
after I turned the oven off, lol. However it’s so simple and so easy. Preheat
the oven to 500 degrees. Take a head of cauliflower, rice it in a food
processor then throw it in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 4-5 minute.
I always line the bowl with 3 layers
of paper towel underneath.
While it’s in the
microwave, put one egg, 1 tsp. of garlic, 1 tsp. of basil and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese in a bowl. I
always use closer to a half cup, but that’s because I’m a cheese addict. Just
leave it until you add the cauliflower.
When the cauliflower
is finished, take a cloth or paper towel (which is why I put the paper towel
there beforehand) to squeeze out the excess water. Then mix it in with the
stuff you’ve already put together and mix until it has a dough-y texture.
Scoop it out onto a
piece of parchment paper – I put the parchment paper on a cookie sheet so it
doesn’t tear in the oven. Then make it into a pizza crust shape with your
hands. Put it in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until the crust in a golden brown
colour.
Once it’s finished,
add toppings of your choice (I usually put spinach, a bit of tomato, a bit of
feta & mozzarella on it) then put it under the broiler until the cheese is
melted! Let it sit for a few minutes to cool off then enjoy!
Microwave Free Option – if you prefer to not use
a microwave, you can heat the cauliflower stove-top then rice it after it’s
been cooked! It works just as well.
Spicy cauliflower bites
These are a take on
cauliflower wings but much more spicy and delicious!
Preheat the oven to
425 and grease a casserole dish for starters! I mix about 1/4 cup of hot sauce
and egg together in one cup. Then I mix together almond flour and garlic in
another. I cut up the cauliflower into pieces (usually each piece separately).
Then I dip the
cauliflower in the egg mix then the flour. After each piece, I put it into the
casserole dish until all of the cauliflower pieces are in the dish.
I put it in the
oven for about 15 minutes. I pull it out and pour hot\ sauce on cauliflower. I
put it back into the oven for another 5-8 minutes and pull it out when it looks
crispy.
“Cauliflower” Mac and Cheese
This is hands down
the #1 recipe in my kitchen. I make it 2-3 times per week and never get sick of
it. I always start with preheating my oven to 425 and greasing a casserole dish
(same as the bites!).
Once the oven is
preheating, I steam the cauliflower. It honestly depends on my mood that day
whether I put it in the microwave or do it stovetop. Once cooked, I put into
the casserole dish.
In a saucepan at
medium-high heat, I mix together 1/4 cup of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded
cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of milk (you could also use heavy cream, it just
upsets my stomach!) Once it’s melted, I pour it on top of the cauliflower. Then
I sprinkle extra shredded cheese on top.
I put this in the
oven for about 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Added taste tip –
I always add a teaspoon of garlic to
the cheese sauce and it gives it such a good extra kick! I then use hot sauce
on top of the cauliflower & cheese when I’m eating it! So delicious.
