Since we are in Italy, and since pizza is one of Phil and my favorite meals, we decided to go on a 2-day pizza-tasting extravaganza. In a lunch-dinner-lunch marathon, we enjoyed two Italian pizzas and a homemade vegan pizza recipe. It may be super delicious, but that doesn't mean healthy vegan recipes can't include pizza.Our first tasting was at Borgo Antico, in the Piazza Santo Spirito. It was fantastic. We ordered the classic marinara pizza, which is just tomato sauce with garlic and drizzled with herb-infused olive oil. No cheese, so we didn't even have to look like crazies ordering pizza without cheese!Our next experiment was homemade pizza using a focaccia picked up at the local grocery store. Focaccia is usually made with milk powder, but they had two versions - one without dairy. I piled a mound of vegetables on top since we do love vegetables.I delved into a possible side-career in silent film since there were lots of people in the common room/kitchen and I was feeling a little self-conscious talking to myself on camera. The only downside of a mound of vegetables atop focaccia is that it is fairly challenging to fit into your mouth without making a substantial mess. However, the upside of a mound of vegetables atop focaccia is that it is amazing.Our third tasting was a pizza at a take-out pizzeria, the cheapest one I could find, just to see how it stacks up. We got a vegetarian pizza without cheese (and they didn't even give me a funny look!), that was made fresh while we waited. It was put, piping hot, into a box that we took across the street to eat overlooking the river.They were all great, but Phil and I both liked mine the best, probably because it was loaded with veggies.Prep time: 15 min. Cooking time: 30 min.
Time from start to eating: 45 min.
Makes 2-3 servings.Homemade Vegan Pizza Recipe Ingredients
1 focaccia bread (if you can't find one made without milk powder, try making your own or use whole wheat pitas)
1-2 Tbsp tomato sauce (optional)
4 small tomatoes, sliced
1 Tbsp Italian Herb Mix
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 eggplant, quartered and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp olive oil (3 tsp)
salt
Homemade Vegan Pizza Recipe Directions1. The key to making a pizza without cheese is that you have to prepare the vegetables as you would to roast them, since they don't have the protective cover of the cheese layer. Do this by rubbing a bit of oil (for protection from the heat) and then a bit of salt (to help them soften) on the vegetables before laying them on your pizza.2. If you like, spread a small amount of tomato sauce onto the focaccia bread. Lay the tomato slices to cover, and sprinkle the herbs and a bit of salt on them.3. Toss the onion with a teaspoon of oil, then with a pinch of salt, and lay them on top of the tomatoes.4. Next, toss the zucchini with another teaspoon of oil, then with a pinch of salt, and lay them on top of the onion.5. Toss the eggplant with the last teaspoon on oil, then with a pinch of salt, and lay them on top of the zucchini. Slicing the eggplant slightly thinner than the zucchini will help them cook in the same amount of time. Put the pizza in the oven at about 350 degrees F, for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.6. Serve with a simple green salad on the side, and plenty of napkins. I hope you enjoy this homemade vegan pizza recipe, the latest of my healthy vegan recipes.
