First Posted: 4/7/2014

I never thought I’d say this in life, but, here it goes: cauliflower is goddamn amazing.

There are so many things you can do with it, from making pizza crust to churning out faux mashed potatoes. I’ve made several recipes that turn cauliflower into a variety of things, but none have tasted so delicious while being pretty good for you.

Cauliflower pepperoni pizza casserole is not only easy, but pretty versatile. While I used pepperoni pizza accoutrements to create my dish, you can do this with any topping that you would normally eat on your pie.

To start, chop one large cauliflower bunch into florets, then toss them in oil and place them on a baking sheet to cook in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 30 minutes, until they start to caramelize. Make sure to mix them around about 10 minutes into the cooking process.

Remove the florets from the oven and place them in a baking dish with pizza sauce, pepperoni, and olives, leaving some pepperoni and olives off to the side. Other awesome toppings to use would be sausage, bacon, peppers, onions, and, honestly, anything else you would throw on some pizza.

Mix all these ingredients together, then top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, oregano, and the reserved toppings.

Bake the casserole in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the sides are bubbling.

Honestly, you would think this is some kind of crazy concoction Domino’s made up, but it’s minus the insane amount of carbs and grease and can be tailored to your liking. It’s the perfect solution for a pizza craving when you want to be guilt-free. And if you want to haul it off to a party with you, here’s a tip: puree the cauliflower after baking and turn this bad boy into a dip.

CAULIFLOWER PEPPORONI PIZZA CASSEROLE

Courtesy of closetcooking.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large cauliflower, cut into florets

• 1 tbsp. oil

• 2 c. pizza sauce

• 2 oz. pepperoni

• 1/4 c. black olives, sliced

• 1 c. mozzarella, shredded

• 1/4 c. parmesan cheese

• 1/4 tsp. oregano (optional)

HOW-TO:

• Toss the cauliflower in the oil, place on a baking sheet in a single layer, and roast in a preheated 400 degrees Fahrenheit oven until it starts to caramelize, about 20-30 minutes, mixing halfway through.

• Mix the cauliflower, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and olives, reserving some pepperoni and olives. Place in a baking dish, sprinkle on the cheese, then the reserved toppings and the oregano.

• Bake in a preheated 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven until the cheese has melted and the sides are bubbling, about 20 minutes.