This is a quick, easy, and deeply satisfying homemade pizza that uses vegan (plant-based) cheese for a typical pizza experience. The pizza provides servings of vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms. It provides healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and fats. It is also a source of numerous vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. This can be a great transition meal for anyone who is used to regular pizza and wishes to switch to a plant-based or vegan diet. Unlike regular pizza, which is full of unhealthy carbohydrates, protein, and fat, this plant-based pizza is nutritionally advantageous.
Characteristics
Type: Anytime meal or snack
Prep time: ~ 15 mins
Servings: Makes one 14-inch pizza
- Vegan / Plant-based
- Wheat- or Gluten-free (depending on crust choice)
- Soy-free
- Corn-free
- Peanut-free
- Nut-free
- Sugar-free
Goodies Needed*
INGREDIENTS:
- Wholesome pizza crust of your choice
- Wholesome sauce, like tomato puree with your choice of herbs OR hummus (any flavor).
- 4 to 6 Organic Crimini Mushrooms
- 1 large or 2 smaller Organic Tomatoes
- 1 Organic Bell Pepper (any color)
- 1/4 to 1/2 Organic Onion (any color)
- 1/2 package of Shredded Vegan Cheese of your choice
- Optional: Organic Fresh or Dried Herbs - to sprinkle on top
TOOLS:
- Oven
- 14-inch Stainless Steel Pizza Pan
- Pizza Cutter
Preparation Steps
- Preheat oven to 425 F degrees.
- Spread the sauce or hummus of your choice on the crust.
- Wash the mushrooms, trim ends if needed, and slice thinly. Layer the mushroom slices on the pizza.
- Wash the tomato(es), cut out the core, and slice thinly. Layer the tomato slices on top of the mushrooms.
- Peel the onion, cut the desired amount off, and slice thinly. Layer the onions on top of the tomatoes.
- Wash the bell pepper, remove the core and seeds, and slice thinly. Layer the peppers on top of the onions.
- Optional: sprinkle some dried herbs on top of the pizza.
- Sprinkle the pizza with half of the contents of a package of the shredded vegan cheese.
- Place into the oven when it is ready and set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on whether you prefer your pizza softer or crispier.
- Once the pizza has finished cooking, let it cool for a few minutes, cut into desired slices, and enjoy.
Meal Nutritional Benefits
Organic Whole Wheat
- provides healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and is naturally low in fat
- provides phytonutrients and antioxidants
- provides vitamins, specifically most B vitamins
- provides minerals, especially manganese, selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and copper
- helps support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- helps maintain healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- Health Tips: Avoid processed wheat-containing foods, even if whole. Choose organic wheat, as conventional wheat carries many health risks and includes toxic glyphosate residue. Choose organic stone-ground whole wheat flours for highest safety and nutrient integrity.
Crimini Mushrooms
- provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are naturally low in fat
- provide antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial benefits
- provide vitamins, especially B vitamins, including vitamin B12 and folate
- provide minerals, especially selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc
- support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- support immune function and protect against infections
- protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
Tomatoes
- provide some carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
- provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
- provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, C, K, and some B vitamins, including folate
- provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, chromium, and zinc
- support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- support healthy eye health, immune health, and digestive health
- protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
Onions
- provide anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties
- provide lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants
- provide vitamins, especially vitamin C and some B vitamins, including biotin and folate
- provide minerals, especially copper, manganese, and phosphorus
- support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- support immune health and iron metabolism
- protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes
- support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
Bell Peppers
- provide some carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
- provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
- provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, C, E, K, and most B vitamins, including folate
- provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and iron
- support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
- support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, infections, and other diseases