Plant-Based BBQ Cauliflower Pizza

I made this vegan take on a BBQ chicken pizza last Friday and I cannot stop thinking about it! Every Friday night in quarantine my family has had a pizza competition: every person makes a pizza and then we vote on the winner! There is a lot of pride for the winner, so it get's pretty intense.

Of course, being both gluten-free and plant-based means that I can't participate in the judging, but I love using it as a time to challenge myself to make my own delicious creations!

Last week, my older brother replicated the BBQ chicken pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. I used to order it allll the time as a kid!! I got inspired and decided to use plant-based ingredients to make one of my own, with an added spicy kick!

INGREDIENTS:

for the spicy cauliflower:

1 head of cauliflower

2 tbsp olive oil (optional, omit if you're oil free!)

1/2 cup water

1-3 tsp ground cayenne pepper (depending on how much spice you like! omit if you don't like spicy)

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp chili powder

salt and pepper

for the pizza:

1 Pizza Crust (I'll post my favorite recipe soon, but use any crust you love will do!)

~1/4 cup BBQ sauce, amount may change depending on how big your crust is and how much sauce you like (there are some good pre-made sauces without super refined sugar from companies like Primal Kitchen, or if you have the time I love making my own! Megan Telpner has a great recipe.)

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 avocado, cubed

Parsley to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

for the spicy cauliflower:

You can make this in advance and store in the refrigerator sealed for a few days! I love using it in salads and other dishes for a bit of a kick!

Preheat the over to 350*. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, break the cauliflower into small, even pieces. Coat and mix with water and optional oil, and soak. Prepare the spices by combining the cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chili powder in a small bowl. Drain any excess liquid from the cauliflower bowl. Spread the cauliflower over the prepared baking tray. Sprinkle spices over cauliflower and lightly toss. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until cauliflower is soft. Set aside.

for the pizza:

Prepare the crust according to its instructions. Top with BBQ sauce, cauliflower, and red onion. Bake for 10 additional minutes (or more if the crust requires). Add remaining toppings, spreading everything evenly to ensure goodness in every bite!

Enjoy!