Toppings (toppings are for 4 people. If you are freezing some of your dough, then just amend the amount of toppings you prepare)
400gblock plain tofuchopped into 1cm cubes
1largered bell pepper, sliced
1largeyellow bell pepper, sliced
1largeorange or green bell pepper, sliced
1largewhite onion, sliced thinly
1largered onion, sliced thinly
400gof fresh or frozen spinach. You will need to lightly steam fresh spinach to wilt it. Once cooledsqueeze at as much excess moisture as possible with your hand over the kitchen sink. Frozen spinach will need to be defrosted, then also moisture squeezed out.
Dried oregano
Dried thyme
Salt and pepper
Instructions
For the dough
In a large bowl, add your lukewarm water and sprinkle your yeast and sugar on top. Mix and leave to stand for 10 minutes until it bubbles. This activates your yeast, thus allowing your dough to rise.
Now add half your flour and salt. Mix with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. Add the rest of your flour and mix until you have a bread dough type consistency. You may need to add more flour of water to obtain this, but you need it to form a ball of dough that you can knead.
Flour a large surface and knead your dough for at least 5 minutes (see below video on how to knead if you aren't sure). OR, use your food mixer to do this whole process. You will need to use your dough hook and allow to mix on a medium setting for 3-5 minutes. If you are using a mixer, let your yeast mixture activate in the bottom of your mixing bowl instead.
Make sure your dough is tacky to the touch, but not sticking to your hands. Add more flour if this is the case.
Once you dough is properly kneaded, transfer to a lightly oiled mixing bowl. Cover with a tea-towel and leave in the warmest spot in your house for about half an hour (or, the amount of time it takes to prep the rest of your pizza ingredients).Now prep everything else.
For the garlic and chili oil
Mix your finely chopped chili, crushed garlic, and oil in a small bowl and leave to infuse. If not using oil, you will just be adding the garlic and chili it is.
For the tomato sauce
Whizz all your tomato sauce ingredients together in a high speed blender for about 1 minute, or until smooth. Set aside.
Pizza construction
Pre-heat your oven to highest setting. We need to recreate a hot pizza oven.
Prepare a large baking tray by lining it with tin foil. Then spray foil with a fine layer of oil.You will need to use a sperate baking tray for all pizzas (unless you want to wait until your first ones have baked to then re-use the baking trays. It will save you time not to do this, as it's better to have the next pizza ready to put in the oven.If you have a hot oven, you may be able to bake 2 pizzas at a time (maybe for slightly longer). Be sure to put your pizzas quite high up in your oven. Two thirds of the way up is good.
Grab your dough and divide it into 4 pieces. You may wish to halve these pieces for children.
Flour a large surface and roll out a piece of your dough to a large dinner plate sized circle (about 10 inches across). You may find it hard to get an exact circle if you're not a pro, but don't worry about it. It really doesn't have to be perfect and even an oblong pizza works.
Carefully as you can, transfer your rolled dough onto your pre-lined and oiled baking tray.
Now spoon about 2-3 Tbsp of your tomato base onto your dough and smooth it all over right to the edges. You can use the back of a dessert spoon to smooth your sauce out as evenly as possible.
Now you are ready to top. Start with your peppers and arrange them prettily on your pizza. Do the same with your onion slices. Do not be afraid to load this pizza up. It can take it because the veggies shrink during cooking.
Now tear small pieces of your spinach up and squish blobs of it in-between your other veggies.
Add your tofu chucks, sprinkling them randomly over your pizza (make sure they don't roll off too easily by pushing them in slightly).
Finally, crack salt and pepper, thyme, and more oregano over the top. Drizzle with your garlic and chili oil, or just the garlic and chili.
Place onto the top shelf of your pre-heated oven for around 20-25 minutes. Times will vary slightly, depending on how hot your particular oven gets. Keep checking until you can see your pizza is quite well done. Don't under bake as you will need to make sure the base is fully cooked in the middle.
Remove from oven and gently use a fish slice between the tin foil or parchment paper and the pizza to gradually remove. Go around every edge with your fish slice until it is loose, then push onto a serving plate.
Cut with a pizza slice or scissors into 6-8 pieces. Serve with more chili oil, oregano, and tobasco or chili sauce.
Video
Notes
Both the pizza dough and the homemade tomato sauce freeze well.
Keyword best veggie pozza recipe, pizza with tofu, vegan pizza, veggie pizza, whole foods plant based pizza