Vegan Pizza:

Vegan Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar

For the Toppings:

• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 2 cups vegan shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional, for extra cheesy flavor)
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sliced bell peppers (red, green, yellow)
• 1/2 cup sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, until it becomes frothy.
2. In a large bowl, combine 3 1/2 cups of flour, olive oil, salt, and sugar. Add the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes, adding more flour as needed until the dough is smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.

2. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat up as well.

3. Shape the Dough:

• Punch down the risen dough and divide it into two equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball and let them rest for 10 minutes.
• On a floured surface, roll out one dough ball into a 12-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a pizza peel or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

4. Assemble the Pizza:

1. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
2. Sprinkle the vegan shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Add nutritional yeast if desired.
3. Top with sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and baby spinach leaves.
4. Sprinkle dried oregano and dried basil over the toppings and drizzle with olive oil.

5. Bake the Pizza:

• Transfer the pizza to the preheated oven (or onto the hot pizza stone) and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

6. Garnish and Serve:

• Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, slice, and serve hot.

Enjoy your delicious homemade vegan pizza!