Most people get in a state of a mild shock when they hear that I can make vegan pizza… with cheese that is. There are a couple of ways to substitute cheese, one of which is with firm tofu, another with vegan cheese. When looking for vegan friendly cheese, remember that to be truly vegan any given product CANNOT contain ANY animal products. There are cheeses that claim to be vegan friendly when they are not. Before you buy anything make sure to read AND understand the label. For example, if vegan “cheese” has casein listed in its ingredients, it is not vegan—casein is a milk protein.
Fortunately, however, there is a company now that makes vegan “cheese”—Vegan Gourmet. They offer a few different cheeses. I normally use Mozzarella “cheese” when I make pizza (and, yes, it does melt, although it does not stretch like dairy cheese). On a picture below you will see Monterey Jack cheese, but that is only because I grabbed wrong cheese while shopping.
I make pizza dough in a bread machine—it is fast, convenient and mess-free… well, almost. A normal dough cycle is about 1 hour 30 minutes, but if you don’t have the time, like me today, give your bread machine about 30 minutes and you are safe to pull the dough out and bake.
Now, let’s get to that Pizza recipe.
PIZZA
Dough
● 2 cups organic unbleached white flour
● 2 cups organic whole-wheat flour
● 1 teaspoon sea salt
● 1.5-2 teaspoon bread machine yeast
● 1 teaspoon unbleached organic sugar
● 3 tablespoons olive oil
● 1.5 cup warm water
Pizza Toppings
● Pineapple chunks or any other veggie/fruit topping you like (optional)
● Pizza or Spaghetti sauce (organic)
● 10 oz. (1 package) vegan Mozzarella cheese
● Spices and salt to taste
Garlic Sauce
(optional)
● 3 cloves of garlic (squeezed)
● 1-2 tablespoons Earth Balance vegan butter
Fortunately, however, there is a company now that makes vegan “cheese”—Vegan Gourmet. They offer a few different cheeses. I normally use Mozzarella “cheese” when I make pizza (and, yes, it does melt, although it does not stretch like dairy cheese). On a picture below you will see Monterey Jack cheese, but that is only because I grabbed wrong cheese while shopping.
I make pizza dough in a bread machine—it is fast, convenient and mess-free… well, almost. A normal dough cycle is about 1 hour 30 minutes, but if you don’t have the time, like me today, give your bread machine about 30 minutes and you are safe to pull the dough out and bake.
Now, let’s get to that Pizza recipe.
PIZZA
Dough● 2 cups organic unbleached white flour
● 2 cups organic whole-wheat flour
● 1 teaspoon sea salt
● 1.5-2 teaspoon bread machine yeast
● 1 teaspoon unbleached organic sugar
● 3 tablespoons olive oil
● 1.5 cup warm water
Pizza Toppings
● Pineapple chunks or any other veggie/fruit topping you like (optional)
● Pizza or Spaghetti sauce (organic)
● 10 oz. (1 package) vegan Mozzarella cheese
● Spices and salt to taste
Garlic Sauce
(optional)
● 3 cloves of garlic (squeezed)
● 1-2 tablespoons Earth Balance vegan butter
Preparation
● Pour water, salt, yeast, sugar and olive oil into a bread machine.
● Add flour (on a rare occasion, like tonight, I use all white flour).
● Set bread machine on Dough cycle and let it run its course.
● Preheat oven to 375° F.
● When the dough is ready, pull it out and set on lightly oiled surface.
● Divide dough into 2 parts.
● Use your hands to flatten each part and place on oiled baking sheets.
● Spread pizza sauce (I use spaghetti sauce most of the times—I just happen to like it better).
● Divide cheese into two parts and shred over each pizza pie, spreading evenly.● Season pizza with your favorite seasoning, if you feel like it.
● Salt lightly, if needed.
● Bake until golden color (13-15 minutes).
● Switch stove to broil for about a minute or two to melt cheese (make sure to watch it closely so pizza does not get burnt).
● To make garlic sauce: peel and mince garlic; add butter and set on stove top to melt.
● Take pizza out of the oven and enjoy!
In words of my husband, after biting into his first slice tonight: “Mmmmmmmmm…. Man, it is GOOD!!!”GOOD EATINGS!!!
