Biting on a hot, cheesy slice of pizza is an undeniably satisfying experience. The rise in popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets has made it easier than ever for vegans and vegetarians to enjoy this classic dish. Vegan pizza can be made to suit individual tastes with a little bit of creativity in the kitchen.
My tortilla pizza recipe got a lot of attention when I shared it on my blog, you can check it here. Tortilla pizza is great when you feel lazy or just don’t want to spend time standing while kneading or stirring. However, this guy here is a Casanova. When you fancy an Italian pizza (considering the quarantine, your next visit to your favorite restaurant might be months from now), you can just bake your own in your kitchen with your oven. You don’t have an oven? Use a pan with a lid and cook it on the stovetop.
INGREDIENTS (326Kcal) – Ideal for 2 persons:
For the pizza dough:
- 4 cups (800gr) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1 sachet or 2 teaspoons dry instant yeast
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 Tbsp salt
- 3 teaspoon olive oil
For the tomato sauce:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 can chop tomato
- 1 Tbsp white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary
- Salt&pepper
The Crust:
Sift the flour in a large mixing bowl and make a small hole in the center. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water and let it sit for 5 minutes. Add sugar, salt, and oil into the water mixture and pour it into the center. Use a wooden spoon to mix all together, until it is sticky. Spread flour over the countertop and transfer the dough.
Knead it for 3-4 minutes and give it a ball shape. Place it back in the mixing bowl and cover it with a kitchen towel. Let it rise for 30-60 minutes in a warm place. After resting the dough, transfer it to a flour spread countertop and divide it into two. Round them and cover them to rest while we prepare the sauce.
Set the oven to 400 and place an oven tray (reverse) or pizza stone on the lowest rack.
The Sauce:
For the sauce, place a small pot on the stove at mid-heat and add all the ingredients. Once it starts boiling, lower the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. If you have fresh basils, you can add them at this stage.
Tasty Toppings:
Once the sauce is ready, set it aside to cool down and prepare the toppings you like to use on your pizza. I used vegan mozzarella, black olives, and fresh basil but you can use mushrooms, courgettes, vegan parmesan, corn… Place a baking mat/paper on the countertop and spread flour over it.
Place one piece of dough and give it a round or long shape with your fingers. Twist the corners (see below) to preserve the sauce from dripping. Spread the pizza sauce and layer it with toppings. Place the pizza on an oven tray or pizza stone with a baking mat/paper. Bake it for 12-15 minutes. Drizzle some olive oil while serving. Enjoy!
NOTE: If you like a thin crust, you can poke the bottom with a fork.
Stay safe.