The crust
The foundation of every good pizza is a good base. This simple recipe lets you create your own vegan-friendly and wholesome wholewheat pizza crust, using just 5 ingredients!
Ingredients:
2tsp dried yeast
1tsp organic sugar
445ml warm filtered water
640g wholemeal flour, plus more for dusting
A pinch of salt
Method:
Mix the water, sugar & yeast together in a bowl. Stir with a metal spoon until combined. Nb: make sure that the water is warm but not hot; warm water will activate the yeast but hot or boiling water will kill it.
Leave the mixture to sit for 5 minutes, until the yeast has dissolved into the water & started to foam.
Combine the flour & salt in a separate bowl; stir with a metal spoon until combined.
Make a well in the centre of the flour & pour in the yeast mixture. Stir with a metal spoon until it forms a wet sticky dough.
Lightly dust a clean work surface with the extra flour. Place the dough on the floured surface & knead for about 5 minutes, until it can be rolled into a ball without sticking to your hands or to the surface.
Lightly oil the inside of a large bowl. Place the dough ball in the bowl & cover with a wet tea towel; put the bowl in a warm place.
Leave the dough to rise for about 45 minutes, until it has doubled in size.
Remove the tea towel & use your fist to knead the air out of the dough. It should be very soft & airy.
Lightly flour a clean work surface. Knead the dough for another 1-2 minutes until smooth & elastic.
Divide the dough ball into two even pieces & roll each one into a ball.
Roll each ball out to make a round pizza base.
Lightly oil 2 x 30cm pizza dishes & gently press each dough base into a tray.
Bake at 392°f for 5-10 minutes ,until slightly browned.
Your pizza bases are now complete, and you’re ready to add vegan-friendly sauce, cheese & toppings!
The sauce
A herby tomato mix will give your vegan pizza that classic italian flavour.
Ingredients:
170ml organic tomato paste
½tsp fresh or dried basil
½tsp fresh or dried oregano
½tsp garlic powder
½tsp organic granulated sugar
Pinch of sea salt to taste
Method:
Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Adjust seasonings as desired.
If your paste is too thick, add a little filtered water until you have a smooth, spreadable sauce.
Spoon the sauce onto each pizza base, then spread it evenly over each base, using a spatula or the back of a spoon.
The toppings
Mix and match all your favourite veggies – sprinkle them over the pizza bases raw, or lightly sauté them first. For a fun interactive pizza night, make the bases and the sauce beforehand, chop up your veggies and put each one in an attractive bowl – then let your guests choose and add their own combination of toppings before you pop the pizzas in the oven. Try some of these:
Bell peppers
Button mushrooms
Fresh or sundried tomatoes
Spinach
Asparagus
Caramelised or dried onion
Spinach
The “cheese”
A melty cheesy pizza topping is one of those things that so many vegans still miss years after giving up dairy! This yummy vegan cheeze recipe gives you a similar texture and taste to melted cheddar cheese, so you can complete your pizza without breaking your vegan diet.
Ingredients:
1 cup filtered water
¼ cup nutritional yeast
2tbsp cornstarch
1tbsp all-purpose flour
1tsp lemon juice
½tsp dijon mustard
¼tsp salt
¼tsp garlic powder
¼tsp onion powder
Method:
Place all the ingredients in a blender & process until smooth.
Pour the mixture into a saucepan; stir over medium heat until it starts to thicken & bubble.
Whisk vigorously while adding 2tbsp filtered water.
Drizzle immediately over your pizza.
If you’d rather not make a cheeze sauce, simply sprinkle some of our tasty mock parmesan cheese powder over your pizzas instead.
Put it all together…
Once your pre-baked pizza base has been spread with sauce, adorned with fresh veggies and lovingly smothered in tangy cheeze, it’s time to put it in the oven.
Bake at 392°f for 15-20 minutes, until the edges of the crust are crisp & golden-brown.
Garnish with fresh herbs if desired; serve & enjoy!