Vegan Margherita Pizza

One of the hardest things about choosing to be vegan, is leaving behind a cheesy pizza, but worry not, this recipe will sort out your cravings!

Vegan Pizza

Makes 8 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the Pizza Dough

  • 1 tsp active yeast
  • 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp warm water
  • 1 1/4 cup flour , divided, (unbleached all purpose or half of all purpose and half whole wheat pastry flour/spelt)
  • 1 tbsp semolina flour or use wheat flour
  • 1/3 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp olive oil

For the Pizza Sauce

  • 1/4 cup unsalted tomato paste
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic minced or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp each dried oregano dried basil
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
  • 1/8 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt

For the Cashew Mozzarella Cream

  • 1/2 cup cashews soaked in hot water for 15 mins
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp flour , use rice flour or 2 tsp cornstarch for gluten free
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp miso , use chickpea miso for soy-free, or use 1-2 tsp nutritional yeast
  • Fresh basil

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 435 degrees.
  2. Soak the cashews in hot boiling water.
  3. Pizza Base: Mix the warm water with yeast and 1 tbsp flour. Mix well and let sit for 2 mins.
  4. Mix the salt and semolina into the rest of the flour.
  5. Add the flour and oil to the yeast mixture and mix. Mix till just about combined.
  6. Let it sit for a minute.
  7. Oil your hands and bring the dough together till just about smooth. Use a tsp or so more flour(or water if you used wheat flours), if needed. Don’t knead it longer than a few seconds. Cover with a towel and let it sit near the preheating oven for 15 mins.
  8. Cashew Mozzarella Cream: Drain the cashews. Add to a blender with the rest of the ingredient. Blend until smooth.
  9. Add to a skillet over medium heat. Cook to thicken evenly. 4 to 6 mins. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking at the bottom and lumping.
  10. Prep the pizza sauce: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Add a pinch of sweetener if needed.
  11. Oil your hands and transfer Pizza dough to a parchment lined baking sheet.
  12. Using some flour shape the dough into a flat ball, then spread using your hands.
  13. Keep spreading to make a large pizza or make 2 small pizzas. You want to spread the dough thin, as it will rise quite a bit during baking and make a bready crust if it was too thick to begin with.
  14. Spread the pizza sauce all over. Add some fresh basil and place tomato slices over the basil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt. (you can also add other thinly sliced veggies at this point). Add spoonfuls of the mozzarella cream on the pizza.
  15. Drizzle a tsp of extra virgin olive oil.
  16. Bake for 13 to 14 mins.
  17. Remove from the oven and add fresh basil and pepper flakes.
  18. Slice and serve!