Best Recipe for Cauliflower-Crust Pizza with Merguez and Roasted Red Pepper
Ingredients
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 Spanish onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 teaspoons cornmeal
- 8 ounces merguez sausage, casing removed
- Handful of arugula
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- One 6-ounce log goat cheese, broken into small clumps
- Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/2 cup pecorino, grated
Instructions
- Special equipment: a baking stone; a pizza peel
- For the roasted red pepper harissa: Place the red peppers under a very hot broiler; broil, turning occasionally, until blackened on the outside and completely soft, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to cool. Peel the peppers and discard the skin and seeds.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and cumin and saute until golden brown.
- Combine the roasted red peppers, the sauteed onion mixture and the lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding a little more oil if needed. Season with salt.
- For the cauliflower crust: Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Let the pizza stone heat for at least 30 minutes.
- Chop the cauliflower into small pieces and then pulse to fine grains (resembling couscous) in a food processor. Measure 2 cups of the pulsed cauliflower and place in the center of a clean side towel along with 1 teaspoon salt.
- Wring the cauliflower of its liquid by twisting the side towel around the cauliflower and twisting with your hands to remove excess water.
- Combine the mozzarella, Parmesan, eggs and pepper in a medium bowl. Grate the garlic clove into the bowl and then add the cauliflower. Mix together until thoroughly combined.
- Spread the cornmeal in a circle on a half sheet of parchment.
- Form the cauliflower mixture into a ball, place it on the cornmeal and evenly spread into a 1/4-inch-thick round. Pinch the edges of the crust to form a rim.
- Using a pizza peel, transfer the parchment of cauliflower crust onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake for 15 minutes.
- For the toppings: Saute the merguez over medium-high heat until cooked through and browned, about 10 minutes.
- Toss the arugula in some olive oil and season with salt.
- Once the pizza has cooked for 15 minutes, spread it with harissa to the edges. Then evenly top with the goat cheese, merguez and some sliced olives.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes. When the cheese is melted and starting to bubble and brown, slide the pizza peel under the parchment and remove the pizza to a pizza pan.
- Let rest for a few minutes, then top with arugula and pecorino. Slice and serve.
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