Amy Layne Paradigm

The Secret Life of Cauliflower (pizza crust, garlic fingers, fried rice and whipped potatoes)

I am always trying to find new ways to sneak healthy food into people. No really, I do this often. I am on a mission to improve the health of everyone I am in contact with. A great way to do this is to find the “tricks” to bring in healthy veggies in place of foods with empty calories. These recipes will please even the biggest health food critic. They are perfect for your picky eaters, anyone that thinks they don’t enjoy vegetables (especially children), anyone looking to lead a healthier life, diabetics and anyone looking to lose some extra weight. These recipes are crowd pleasers and no one will know they are healthy! You will be shocked how perfect theses dishes turn out and taste. So here are my favourite cauliflower recipes!
 

Cauliflower Fried Rice

This recipe is sure to become a regular in your kitchen; it is easy, simple and yummy.

Ingredients:
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 head cauliflower, trimmed and coarsely chopped
• ¼ tsp sea salt

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
2. Sauté onion over medium heat for 10 minutes, until soft.
3. Meanwhile, place cauliflower in a food processor with the “S” blade and process until the texture of rice. (TIP: if you do not have a food processor do not fret, you can simply use a cheese grater to grate the cauliflower into rice. Works awesome!!
4. Add cauliflower to skillet, cover and cook 5-10 minutes, until soft, then add salt.
5. Enjoy this “rice” in soups, as a side for supper in place of rice, or in a casserole. Serve as your “rice” side dish with chicken, or fish, veggies and a side salad for a complete meal!

For “Fried Rice” simply add some spices to this dish, red peppers, mushrooms and some ground turkey (see the spicy turkey sausage recipe below) and have a wonderful “Fried Rice” meal!
 

 
This pizza is a wonderful alternative to your favorite guilty pleasure. What is very exciting is that it’s loaded with vegetables and is low on the glycemic index scale. This means you prevent unnecessary insulin spikes that lead to mood swings and weight gain. If you are on a DAMY Health plan you know that I ask you to avoid certain foods at night that cause us to store fat, well this meal is perfectly fine for your supper meal! Feel like you are having something treat-like and make this pizza this week!
 

Cauliflower Crust Ingredients:



 
• 1 cup cooked plain Cauliflower Rice minus the oil and onion 
(as shown above or microwave if you are in the worlds biggest hurry. It pains me to even suggest this, just don’t add any water)
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1 cup low fat mozzarella cheese OR Feta
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp parsley

Toppings *see recipe ideas below.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
2. Slightly grease a cookie sheet (or use my favorite baking stone)
3. In a bowl combine cauliflower, egg whites and cheese. Press evenly on to the pan and sprinkle with the oregano and parsley.
4. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes (depending on your oven – *see below).
5. Remove the crust from the oven. Add organic, natural pizza or pasta sauce (see Simple Marinara Sauce below), toppings and lightly with the cheese.
6. Place under a broiler at high heat until cheese is melted and golden. Remove and Enjoy!
*Tip – Here are my main tips to make your crust crusty:
1. Make sure your cauliflower is dry after washing (no water to cook).
2. Spread your crust out thin (not too thin – just a thin layer).
3. Bake until crust-like. If you peak at your crust at the recommended cooking time and the middle is still not cooked… cook longer.

 


 

Garlic Breadsticks

These also are wonderful as garlic breadsticks. For garlic breaksticks follow the above recipe but add garlic salt (2 tsp). Form the crust “dough” into sticks on a sheet instead of the pizza crust shape. These garlic breadsticks are great for dipping in soups or chili. They are also great to just dip in your all natural pizza sauce or the Simple Marinara Sauce below.
 

DAMY Veggie Pizza

• Sun-Dried tomatoes (Chopped)
• Low Fat Mozzarella or Feta Chopped

• Chopped Broccoli

• Diced onion
• Spinach
• Black Olives
 Sliced
• Red Bell Peppers
• Simple Marinara Sauce
 

Chicken BBQ Pizza

• All natural BBQ sauce in place of the pizza sauce
• Grilled chicken (sliced)
• Red pepper slices
• White onion slices
• Low fat Mozzarella
 

Hawaiian Pizza

• Ground turkey
• Pineapple chunks
• Roasted red pepper sauce
• Mushroom slices
• Feta cheese
 

Spicy Sausage Pizza

• Spicy Sausage (see recipe)
• Red Pepper Slices
• Orange Pepper Slices
• Onion Slices
• Mushroom Slices
• Simple Marinara Sauce
• Hot Sauce

If you want to get really healthy on me – here is a great, simple pizza sauce recipe
 

Simple Marinara Sauce


 
Makes about 3 cups
Use this simple marinara sauce as a topping for your pizza or as a dipping sauce for your garlic breadsticks.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup finely chopped white onion
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp no-salt-added tomato paste
• 2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring broth to a simmer. Add onion, garlic and crushed red pepper and cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium, stir in tomatoes and cook about 15 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally to make sure mixture doesn’t stick to the pan. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Serve warm or chill until ready to serve.
 

Ground Turkey Sausage:

• 1 lb Lean Ground Turkey
• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp Fennel Seed
• ½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• ½ tsp Smokey Paprika
• ¼ tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in a frying pan.
2. Add the ground turkey and all seasonings and cook.
3. Chop turkey while frying to hamburger consistency.
4. Cook until browned completely!
5. Add to your pizza
 

Whipped Cauliflower “Potatoes”

Use these whipped potatoes instead of your regular potatoes tonight for supper. I bet no one in the family notices and if they do it will be because they are so darn yummy. They feel so naughty but they’re not. They are a must try this week! They are “whipped potatoes.” No where in this recipe will you find potatoes! Instead we will be using cauliflower! We choose this due to the many health benefits of coniferous vegetables (phytonutrients and vitamin C). Aside from all the wonderful health benefits of cauliflower this recipe is delicious! You will be addicted!

Ingredients:
• 1 large head cauliflower
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup fresh herbs (chives work particularly well)
• Sea Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• ½ Cup Onion
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Chop cauliflower into smaller chunks – about bite-size pieces works well.
2. Peel garlic cloves and cut in half, lengthwise. Chop onion into slices.
3. Steam cauliflower, garlic and onion for 15 minutes, or until cauliflower and garlic are tender enough for a fork to easily pass through.
4. Combine steamed cauliflower, garlic, onion, olive oil, fresh herbs, pepper, and sea salt in a food processor and blend until everything comes together into a mashed potato-like consistency. I like mine whipped. Top with a little pepper for looks and enjoy your guilt free whipped potatoes.
 
TIP: if you love a sour cream and chives on you whipped potatoes; top your whipped cauliflower with a dollop of fat free Greek yogurt and some fresh chopped chives! So delish!

*Enjoy these smart meal ideas and feel great about your choices. Your family is sure to love them. Being healthy is not about “not having” it is about finding smart solutions to turn our unhealthy favorites into healthy ones.

 

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  • http://fitfabulousforever.com Gale

    Cauliflower Fried Rice was one of my best discoveries. I love that it is so easy to make, taste incredible, versatile and pretty enough for a dinner party. Keep um coming Amy…

    • http://www.damyhealth.com Amy Layne

      Thanks so much Gail! I feel the same way!! Best creation ever!!!

  • Sonya

    Love cauliflower everything!!! Had rice the other night and made pizza tonight (super yummy!!!) and must say the whipped potatoes are delicious as well!!! Who would’ve thought it would have so many other uses!!!!

    • http://www.damyhealth.com Amy Layne

      Isn’t awesome Sonya!!! I am so happy you tried it all! I know once everyone tries it they will love it!! So happy you loved it all and thank you for sharing!!! XO

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  • Joannehart

    I made the BBQ chicken pizza tonight. It was sooo good!!! Amazing that it is made from cauliflower – secret life is right!

  • http://www.damyhealth.com Amy Layne

    Isn’t it amazing!! I just love it!

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  • Sayed

    it is great

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  • Redwitch05

    I just finished making the pizza and it smells delish. My little bro came and was about to eat the crust because it smelled so good. I steamed my Cauliflower then ran it through my Omega 8005 juicer.There’s a funnel that it comes with that blends it into a buttery cream consistency and i think it’s scrumptious. It made the ‘dough’ stick really well. Thank you so much for your recipe <3

    • http://www.damyhealth.com Amy Layne

      Hey! Wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing! I love this recipe too! So happy you loved it and thank you for the comment love! 

  • isiliel

    Hi there! Your recipe is GREAT, it is going to be a regular in my diet. I have a question though: I come from Greece and Feta is considered a cheese very rich and creamy. If one has cholesterol, the doctor tells him to avoid feta. So, isn’t feta too rich for a diet?

    • http://www.damyhealth.com Amy Layne

      Hey there! I am not sure what the cheese is like there but it is actually lower in fat here. It is a great choice. If you do not have this kind try a low fat hard cheese and you will be fine! 

      • isiliel

        Thank you for your reply!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=683924719 Julie LeBlanc

    Hi Amy
    Going out to get the ingredients right now and pass it off to my little fussy eaters tonight…Stay tuned…Fingers crossed
    Julie in Amherst

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  • Michelle Wilson

    Hi, I made the pizza last night for supper and I loved it!!! It will become a staple in my home for sure. I was wondering if you have ever made them up and put them in the freezer? I can’t wait to try a healthy treat recipe!!! Thanks
    Michelle

    • http://www.damyhealth.com Amy Layne

      That is wonderful!!