As much as I love Cauliflower Pizza, there was one big problem with it.
Even after resolving all his IBS issues, my Irishman still has a big reaction to the humble cauli. No fun.
Then one day I was dreaming about cauliflower pizza and inspiration stuck. Why not zucchini?
Yes it would be green, but surely the texture would work.
And I was right! In fact in many ways I like this even better than the cauliflower original.
Substitutes
pantry-friendly – use frozen cauliflower ‘rice’ instead of the zucchini.
extra fiber – Add 1 tablespoon psyllium husks, if you have psyllium powder 1 teaspoon will be enough. The pizza is perfectly fine without the psyllium. The one in the picture is without psyllium. You could also use oat bran, ground chia seeds or ground flax seeds if you feel like more fiber.
dairy-free – just skip the parmesan. If you have some nutritional yeast lying around, a tablespoon or so wouldn’t hurt for extra flavour. Add some extra almond meal.
carnivore – add some proscuitto or salami to your pizza.
nut-free – replace almond meal with bread crumbs, finely ground sunflower seeds or extra parmesan.
different veg – replace zucchini with cauliflower or broccoli.
smaller pizzas – feel free to make into whatever size (or shape) you like. Smaller pizzas won’t need quite as long, so check after 20 minutes. I often make 2 pizzas so we can vary the toppings.
paleo (grain, legume & dairy-free) -replace parmesan in crust with extra almond meal.
more substantial (carb lovers) – serve with garlic bread or make regular flour based pizza bases. OR use pita bread as your base.
more substantial (low carb) – make more pizzas! Add some prosciutto OR serve with a substantial salad like this Kale Salad or my Best-Ever Broccoli Salad.
Low FODMAP – use half the zucchini. Your pizza will be thinner and will cook more quickly so be prepared for a quicker cooking time and serve with a more substantial salad or side.
egg-free – replace eggs with 2 tablespoons ground linseeds (flax) and 4 tablespoons water. I haven’t tried this so please let me know in the comments below if you do.
more fancy / for entertaining – make multiple pizzas with different toppings. Serve with green salad or a shaved cabbage salad.
Waste Avoidance Strategy
zucchini – will keep for 2 weeks or longer in a plastic bag in the fridge. To keep it even longer, cook sliced zucchini in a little butter until just soft then store in an airtight container in the fridge.
parmesan – wrap in baking paper and store in the fridge in a sealed paper bag or airtight container. Will keep for months. Can be frozen if you’re going away.
almond meal (flour) / salt – keep them in the pantry.
eggs – will keep in the fridge for weeks or use for another meal.
Problem Solving Guide
bland – next time use more salt For now grate over some extra parmesan.
too dry – the bases will dry out if over cooked. For now just drizzle with a little chilli oil or extra virgin olive oil. Next time check earlier.
no oven – you could cook the bases under the grill (broiler). Just grill until the top is firm and deeply golden then turn and cook for a few more minutes to brown the bases.
sticking – the baking paper is a must! And don’t use foil as it can stick too.
Prepare Ahead
You could cook the bases ahead and either fridge or freeze then add the toppings and finish the baking just before serving. Will keep in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Can be frozen.
