How to Make Vegan Pizza

vegan pizza

Image via Flickr by amandasdosmestic

Veganism is a strict type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, dairy products, and any other ingredients that come from animals. Vegans believe in a plant-based natural diet that does not cause any harm to animals. A vegan diet may consist of grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, and fruits — but regardless of whatever diet you are on, pizza is a common craving. To enjoy this comfort food on a vegan diet, figuring out a way to make a vegan pizza is a must.

The Crust

The foundation of a good piece of pizza really relies on the quality of the crust. While there are several vegan pizza crusts ready to be purchased in the store, it’s also something you can make yourself. Try these great crust recipes from Elephantastic Vegan:

Pizza Crust With Yeast

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3/4 cup water

Instructions:

  1. Combine flour, instant yeast, and salt in a mixing bowl.
  2. Add olive oil and water, then mix and knead by hand until it’s soft.
  3. Coat the ball of dough in a drizzle of olive oil and allow the dough to rise. It’s a good idea to cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, as it could take two to three hours to fully rise.
  4. Preheat the oven to 480 degrees Fahrenheit.
  5. Divide the dough into two equal parts. Roll on lightly floured parchment paper and separate into two crusts.
  6. Stretch the crust to the corners of a baking tray, removing the parchment paper.
  7. Top the pizza with sauce and your favorite toppings.
  8. Cook the pizza for 10-15 minutes based on crust preference.

Pizza Crust Without Yeast

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2/3 cup water

Instructions:

  1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Add olive oil and water a little at a time and knead until you have a smooth dough. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour.
  3. Since there is no yeast being used, you don’t have to wait for the dough to rise, and you can just separate the dough into two crusts right away.
  4. Preheat the oven to 480 degrees Fahrenheit.
  5. Add your choice of sauce or toppings.
  6. Cook for 15-20 minutes based on how dark you want the crust.

Pizza is More Than Cheese

While there is such a thing as vegan cheese, a lot of vegans prefer to just do without the cheese altogether. Having pizza without cheese may seem a bit like an oxymoron, but when you realize that pizza is more than its cheese feature, you won’t even miss it. You’ll also open yourself up to the plethora of topping options out there. Among some of the best vegan-approved toppings are rosemary, potatoes, and onions; breadcrumbs and basil; broccoli and onions; and chickpeas and garlic.

Recipes to Try

Here are some vegan pizzas you can try your hand at from the popular blogs Vegan Heaven and Vegan Richa:

Vegan Taco Salad Pizza

Ingredients:

  • Pizza crust dough
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1 cup vegan sour cream
  • 1 sliced avocado
  • 2 sliced tomatoes
  • 2 cups chopped lettuce
  • 1/2 cup kidney beans
  • 1/2 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup vegan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a medium saucepan, roast the walnuts (without oil) until they’re lightly golden (about two minutes).
  2. Cook the lentils according to their directions and then drain.
  3. Add the walnuts and cooked lentils in a food processor (or blender) so it’s a chopped consistency but still has some texture.
  4. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil and saute the onions. Once onions are golden, add in the lentil walnut mixture and stir with tomato paste. Cook over medium heat for two minutes and then add diced tomatoes, spices, and your salt and pepper preference.
  5. Spread vegan sour cream on the pizza crust and then add the mixture over the sour cream, topping with avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, corn, kidney beans, and vegan cheese.

Barbeque Sweet Potato Pizza

Ingredients:

  • Pizza crust dough
  • 1 small cubed sweet potato
  • 1/3 cup corn kernels
  • 1/2 sliced onion
  • 1 sliced jalapeno
  • 1/3 cup soy-free barbeque sauce
  • Choice of vegetables
  • Barbeque seasoning (optional)

Instructions for barbeque seasoning:

Mix the following together:

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon coconut sugar

Instructions:

  1. In a medium saucepan, boil the sweet potato and corn over medium heat and boil the vegetables in a separate pot of water for five minutes.
  2. Toss the onions (and any additional vegetables you choose) into the saucepan and add two tablespoons of barbeque sauce.
  3. Spread sweet potato mixture on the pizza and add the jalapeno pepper.
  4. Sprinkle barbeque seasoning over the pizza (optional) and drizzle with the rest of the barbeque sauce.
  5. Bake at 425 degrees for 16 to 18 minutes.

Spinach Artichoke Pizza

Ingredients:

  • Pizza crust dough
  • 1 can white beans
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 chopped onion
  • Olive oil to saute onions
  • 5 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic
  • 1 can drained artichoke hearts
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup vegan mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

  1. Rinse and drain the white beans and combine with cashews in a blender with lemon juice, water, and nutritional yeast.
  2. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and saute the onions until they’re golden in color.
  3. Add garlic and two cups of spinach into saucepan and keep over medium heat until spinach is cooked (roughly three minutes).
  4. Add in the white bean and cashew mixture and cook for another two to three minutes.
  5. Spread mixture on the pizza crust and top with artichoke hearts and three remaining cups of spinach before sprinkling with vegan cheese.
  6. Cook for eight minutes or until crust is to your liking.

As you can see, choosing to go vegan doesn’t mean getting rid of the pizza in your life. In fact, going vegan can actually get you to try and appreciate pizzas you may have turned your cheek to previously, like Pequod’s Pizza’s caramelized onion crust pizza. The moral of the story is that pizza is life, regardless of the lifestyle you lead.