Pizza

[tammy]

After some experimenting, I finally figured out how to make a vegan pizza that I like. And it's fairly simple if using a store-bought crust.

Here's what I do:

Pizza base -
a) I use the Trader Joe's fresh dough (0.99 ea). The fresh dough is wonderful and fluffy but you do need to roll it out. Once you've done that, pierce it with a fork so it doesn't blow up like a balloon when you cook it. These typically have an expiration date so I only buy them if I know I'm going to have pizza.
b) Vicolo's organic corn meal pizza crust (two pack for $4.99, usually sold in the refrigerated or frozen section). Usually try to keep one or two in the freezer at all times to satisfy pizza cravings. The corn meal pizza crust is simply yummy.

Sauce
just simple organic tomato paste* (both Trader Joe's and Safeway have organic versions, it's less than a dollar per can. I'll eyeball it and into a little bowl, I'll add about 2 tablespoons of paste plus sprinkle on "italian seasoning" (a bulk herb mix that I buy at Rainbow Grocery), a little bit of water, and sometimes fresh garlic, then mix/spread on the pizza base. Then I'll sprinkle salt (this is important, I wasn't doing this before and it's made a big difference in how I enjoy it now.)

*by buying tomato paste, versus tomato sauce, I think it's better because it's more efficient to ship a small can, which uses less resources for its packaging, and correspondingly takes less room in my pantry. One can of paste is good for 2 pizzas.

Chris does his differently. He'll take tomato paste and spread it on, then take fresh garlic and use the garlic press to crush it directly onto the pizza (to capture the garlic jucie as well). Plus salt.

Toppings - This is the fun part. You can have whatever toppings you like. Use your imagination!

Vegan Cheeze: Sometimes we'll use the Follow Your Heart vegan mozzarella cheese. We can get it for $4.19 at Rainbow, and it's enough for 4 pizzas. Note - if you like your cheeze melty, what you can do is broil it for a few minutes at the end. You can leave the oven door open and just watch it to make sure the pizza doesn't burn. Note - after you've opened it the package, you can wrap it back up or just put it in a resealable container. Don't let it sit too long in your frig after you've opened it. (Yeah, good excuse to have pizza again next week)

For myself, I like to tear up spinach leaves, sliced mushrooms, chopped onions, bell peppers and also olives. One time I had chopped olives by mistake (itty bitty olive pieces) instead of sliced or whole olives, so I just spread it as a layer on top of the tomato paste) . If tomatoes are in season, as they have been, I'll also put a few slices on. And then add the vegan cheeze on top.

Chris' favorite pizza is with the vegan mozzarella cheese with pineapple and olives.

[LHLisavegan]

Tammy,

Thanks! My version was also delicious. And I didn't use salt or seasonings or water to dilute the tomato paste. Used a Vicolo's organic cornmeal crust. Then organic tomato paste - a lot/about 2/3 a small can. And crushed raw garlic mixed in. Then, sliced mushrooms, lightly streamed fresh broccoli florets, large pieces garlic, and fresh tomato slices. And I used Follow Your Heart vegan cheeses, both the mozzarella and cheddar flavors. And after baking, sprinkled on lots of crushed red pepper.

Some day, I will hopefully participate more in this thread because love to hear what other vegans eat. But had to share this now and thank you for the idea. Hadn't even noticed the organic crusts before this.


P.S. A great small meal single serving pizza slice can be made with a slice of vegan whole grain toast (I like Alvarado Street sprouted barley bread, etc.) and tomato paste with garlic crushed in and Follow Your Heart cheddar &/or mozzarella cheese, with optional (already cooked) toppings, and crushed red pepper.

[wyeja]

Tammy: I'm new to this. What is Rainbow (I assume a grocery store, but where? Is it particularly vegan-friendly? Any iin the East Bay?

wendy

[LHLisavegan]

wyeja,

Rainbow is an independent worker owned co-op grocery store. It's almost vegetarian; think it's vegetarian except for gel caps in their supplements section. Anyway, there's no flesh foods sold. It is vegan friendly.

There's only one of them and it's in San Francisco.

But Follow Your Heart vegan cheeses and the other pizza ingredients can be found at the Berkeley Whole Foods and probably many other vegan friendly stores in your area.

Best wishes. Lisa

[wyeja]

thanks for the info, Lisa.

best,

wendy

[tammy]

Wanted to add, you can search on all of these businesses in the Ultimate Guide, too

http://bayareaveg.org/ug

Re: Rainbow - I believe they sell cat/dog food with meat, but with the exception of supplements, everything for humans is vegetarian.

You can find the Vicolo's crust & FYH cheeze at Whole Foods, maybe even Berkeley Bowl too (I don't live in the East Bay, sorry)

Tammy

[paul120]

nice posting..thanks for giving the info.

[Guest]

That recipe sounds very tempting, can't wait to try that

The recipe I use is pretty easy:
2 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. to 1 c. warm water
1 package (1 T.) yeast
pinch of salt

Mix together. Allow to rise about an hour. Roll out and place on pan and top. Bake at 500 F for 12 min.

[dotmoms]

Hello Every one,
My moms are work in a pizza restaurant. She must prepare many pizzas like the sample. Help her to earn money preparing pizzas.