Pizza Part Nueve: California Fiesta Pizza:

I named this pizza California Fiesta Pizza: roasted cauliflower and grape tomatoes, a creamy sauce, and pepperoni for some zip. I made it based on a recipe in a magazine that I saw way back, for a pasta dish, and thinking about the combination of flavors, I wondered what it would taste like on a pizza. Of course, it has my own little twists, and I decided that a cream cheese based sauce would go good with it. It was a hit with the family, and has easily become a favorite. I hope you’ll enjoy it too.

So, let’s get cooking!

The vegetables are going to be roasted under the broiler, so you’ll want to get those going first. After washing them, pull the cauliflower apart into florets and slice about ¼ inch thick.

Cut the grape tomatoes in half.

Cut the pepperoni slices into quarters. You can use thicker slices, but the thinner ones were all I had on hand. I buy a huge package at a wholesale club and freeze. It costs less, and frozen pepperoni slices are so much easier to work with.

In a small bowl, mix together the oil, salt, pepper, and minced garlic.

Place the cauliflower, grape tomatoes, and pepperoni in a bowl and stir in the oil mixture to coat.

Spread the mixture out on a sheet pan, sprinkle with crushed red pepper, and broil for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, turning every two minutes or so.

Now, while the veggies are roasting, start the cream cheese sauce. In a medium saucepan melt the butter and mix in the flour to make the roux. Cook over slightly less than medium heat until bubbly.

Slowly add the milk and stir constantly to blend in. Cook and stir until thickened. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted into the cream sauce. Set aside to cool a little.






When the veggies and pepperoni are slightly browned and smelling so good, remove from oven and set aside.

Press out the pizza dough onto a greased sheet pan. You can use homemade pizza dough or store bought.

Spread the cream cheese sauce onto the pizza dough and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over that.

Add the roasted veggies and pepperoni to top the pizza. Use a spatula, spoon, or whatever is easiest for you. I actually used my hands and just picked them up to “sprinkle” them on.





Bake in a 425° oven for 18 minutes. The underneath of the crust should be nicely browned and crispy. Enjoy! ~TMMF

California Fiesta Pizza

1 pizza dough
2 Tbl butter
1 Tbl flour
¾ c milk
6 oz cream cheese
½ small head cauliflower
½ pint grape tomatoes
3-4 oz pepperoni slices
1 Tbl olive oil
¼ ts salt
¼ tsp pepper
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
crushed red pepper
1 ½ c shredded mozzarella cheese