When it comes to vegan pizza most people are unsure whether it is healthier or not. But the truth is, it is true that a vegan pizza is a great option for you if you are looking for a healthier and more nutritional one. But vegan pizza doesn’t have the same taste and texture as the traditional one, it still provides some extra benefits to your health.
So, for every pizza lover who is thinking to shift to vegan pizza over traditional ones, we are going to prepare this complete guide. This article will describe to you what is vegan pizza, is vegan pizza healthier and testier, and the reasons why you must shift to vegan pizza.
What is a Vegan Pizza?
Vegan is a diet that is free of animal products. This category includes meat, dairy products, fish, gelatin, colors produced by animals, and so on. When it comes to pizza dough, all pizza dough is vegan unless any animal product such as yogurt is mixed in to make the dough.
But, when it comes to the other parts of the pizza such as toppings; vegan pizza toppings are made of plant-based ingredients. A vegan pizza is topped with tomatoes, broccoli, basil, spinach, and other veggies. Also provided that cheese is the primary ingredient that is essential to pizza.
So, finding a vegan pizza is sometimes very tricky. You need to find out an excellent substitute for cheese and also some vegetarian toppings to make the recipe vegan. A vegan pizza is made of plant-based alternatives such as vegan cheese, vegan sausage, and vegan toppings.
Is Vegan Pizza Healthy?
Though vegan ingredients don’t mean healthy; let’s go over some points that describe how vegan pizza is healthier.
- Low on calories:
Traditional pizzas are made of artery-clogging processed meats, and fattening cheese. Traditional pizzas are considered junk food as they contain many calories. But vegan pizzas are made of plant-based ingredients; so they contain lesser calories.
Vegan means you are scrapping the greasy protein items as well as the cheese.
Traditional pizzas are fully loaded with high-calorie toppings and high amounts of fats. So, a vegan pizza is leaving out the greasiness from its ingredients and automatically lowers the unhealthy calorie.
- Containing more nutrients than a traditional pizza:
A vegan pizza containing toppings consisting of varied veggies. These veggies consist of various nutrients. Vegan pizzas are made of plant-based ingredients. You can make a pizza healthier if you can replace the meat toppings with vegetables.
If the pizza is made in moderation and the nutrients of the veggies don’t get lost, then the vegan pizza must be healthier.
- Low cholesterol:
Vegan pizza contains ingredients that have less cholesterol. So, it is considered healthier than the traditional one.
Is vegan Pizza Testier?
Many people showing their interest to switch on a vegan diet for health reasons. With a few simple swaps, you can enjoy every bit of a vegan pizza as delicious as traditional ones. Vegan pizza is also testier just like any other traditional pizza but sometimes the taste depends on the ingredients used to make the pizza.
From classic combinations like basil and tomato to more unique toppings, vegan sausage, and vegan cheese; the list is limitless. So according to your pizza preference, you need to choose the ingredients that will tantalize your taste buds.
If you are a non-vegan and thinking about how a vegan pizza tastes, the good news is that it is as testier as traditional pizza. The vegan pizza is made of plant-based ingredients and it is meat-free. You can make vegan pizza with a variety of different toppings, so you just need to find a combination that you love the most.
Also, you can enhance the taste of vegan pizza by adding some quality cheese. You can also experiment with different flavors to find the one that you prefer most. Finally, make sure to add a good quality tomato sauce and sprinkle some fresh spices to make your vegan pizza sing.
Reasons to eat vegan pizza
Veganism is a way of living and it is also a living practice that seeks to reject all forms of cruelty to animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. This practice encourages people to use animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, and the environment.
Some people have the misperception that vegan food is dull and uninteresting, but the concept is wrong. Here, we are providing the reasons why you must eat vegan pizzas.
Here are the reasons as follows:
- Vegan pizza is healthier:
Vegan pizza is dependent on plant-based ingredients so it means there will be no consumption of oil, sugar, or any junk food. The toppings, sausage, and cheese are made of plant-based ingredients. The toppings don’t contain greasy, saturated fat, cholesterol, or high calorie. The topping is plenty of fresh vegetables and herbs and plant-based proteins.
- Vegan pizza is good for those having high blood pressure:
If you are a vegan and have high blood pressure then you must look for adding more magnesium-rich food items to your diet. Good sources of magnesium are leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, and beans.
- Vegan pizza is good for weight loss:
Vegan pizza is a great option for weight loss as long as you made it with low-calorie and nutritional ingredients. Eating vegan pizza enables you to reduce the calorie intake and it can be a part of a balanced diet. The fiber contained in the whole wheat crust and vegetables help you to feel fuller longer, it can also help in weight management.
- Vegan pizza containing good quality cheese:
Pizza without cheese is unthinkable. But in making vegan pizza, the premium kind of vegan cheese is used that hits your taste buds. So, indulging in the right premium quality mozzarella cheese that is 100 % plant-based brings out the best in you.
- Create your toppings:
If you are a big fan of mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, and much more; then you can make try these veggies while making the vegan pizza. From sweet corn to jalapeno peppers; there you can get a wide variety of available options when it comes to pizza toppings. So, you can use your favorite veggies as toppings in vegan pizza.
- Save you a lot of bucks:
A vegan pizza is very much affordable because the toppings are made with mushrooms, nuts, and artichokes. So, it will save the unnecessary costs of prepackaged food. The plant-based ingredients can prevent various chronic diseases thus saving the costs required for visiting the doctor.
Don’t want to go outside? Make vegan pizza at home by following these simple steps
Ingredients:
For the pizza dough
- 500 g white bread flour, extra for dusting
- 1tsp dried yeast
- 1 and half tsp. olive oil, plus extra
- 1 tsp. caster sugar
For the tomato sauce
- 100 ml passata
- 1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped, or 1/2 tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
For the toppings
- 200g vegan mozzarella cheese
- 2 thinly sliced tomatoes
- Fresh basil, or oregano leaves, and chili oil
- Vegan parmesan (optional)
Method:
Step 1:
You need to put the flour, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Put 150mil of cold water and 150ml of warm water in a bowl and let them mix. This means you have the perfect water temperature for the yeast.
Add the salt and oil to the water and mix them well and pour it into the flour. Then stir well the mixture to make an even mixture together in the bowl. You need to stir the mixture until it forms a soft and sticky dough. If it is too dry then add some splash of cold water.
Step 2:
You need to dust a little flour on the work surface and knead the dough for 15 minutes. Put the dough back into the mixing bowl and cover it with cling film greased with a few drops of olive oil. Then leave it for some time approximately 1 hour or until it gets doubled in size.
Step 3:
You need to heat the oven to 220C and put a baking sheet on the top shelf to heat up. Once, the dough is doubled in size you need to knock it back by punching with a few times with your hand and then knead it again on the floured surface.
The dough should be springy, and a lot less sticky. Then set aside it and prepare your sauce.
Step 4:
In a bowl, put all the ingredients together to make the tomato sauce; season with salt, pepper, fresh spices, and a pinch of sugar if you like, and mix well. Set aside.
Step 5:
You need to divide the dough into two or four or six pieces according to your preference, shape them like a ball, and flatten each piece as much as you can do it with your hands. Make sure that the dough is well-dusted to prevent sticking.
Dust another baking sheet into flour and put a pizza base at the top. Then spread 4 to 5 tbsp. tomato sauce on the top and sprinkle some tomato-sliced and grated vegan cheese.
Finally, drizzle with a few drops of olive oil and put for baking in the oven on your preheated baking tray. You need to bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the base is puffed up. You need to wait until the vegan cheese is melted and bubbling.
Step 6:
You should repeat these steps with the rest of the dough and toppings. Finally, serve the vegan pizza with some fresh basil leaves or chili oil if you prefer. Sprinkle vegan parmesan right after baking if you want.
Conclusion
Vegan pizzas are great options if you look to lead a healthier lifestyle. Vegan pizzas are a good source of plant-based proteins and offer vital nutrients such as iron, fiber, and vitamins to your body. They also contain fewer calories than traditional pizzas.
Moreover, vegan pizzas are great ways to satisfy your pizza craving while keeping healthy.
