VEGAN Homemade Pan Pizza

Pile on your favorite toppings & make pizza night a bit more special with this Homemade Pan Pizza – crispy crust, soft bread & a delicious sauce!

You know the worst part of pizza night? Nothing. There can be nothing wrong with pizza night, because everyone loves pizza! But let’s face it: Friday night pizza has got a very junk food image. I blame the cheese and I know that even the most ardent pizza fan would agree, albeit begrudgingly. It’s almost impossible to imagine eating pizza without the cheese, but you know what? The earliest forms of pizza never featured cheese – with the exception of the Margherita, which was topped with mozzarella. In fact, the original pizzas were mostly sweet, and the savory versions were more like flatbreads and nothing like the stuff we now pick up from our local pizzeria!

I still remember when Domino’s and Pizza Hut set up shop in my neighborhood. Pizza, Burgers and fries were foreign foods in India, and I was well into my teens before I tasted my first pizza. Now, there’s one of each in almost every block, so much that it’s an epidemic – both on health and the road traffic! And I used to think that those pizzas were amazing, till I tasted one here when I moved to the US. After the first bite, I mentally spat on every pizza I had eaten in India, thinking they were the best. I bet that if I go to Italy now, I’d sing a different song about the pizzas I’ve eaten here.

But it doesn’t have to be the most evil thing in the world. With the right sauce and the right crust, you won’t really miss the gooey, stringy topping. Trust me! By making your own Homemade Pan Pizza, you know exactly what goes into it, thereby you control how indulgent or healthy it can be. Besides, without the cheese, it’s just bread, tomato sauce and lots and lots of veggies – doesn’t sound that bad, eh? Exactly! And it gives me another reason to party with my cast iron pan!

If you don’t already own a cast iron pan, here’s why you should get one immediately! Not only does it save you, it’s also better for the environment!

There are two things that sets a good pizza apart: the crust ( crisp, golden and non-oily) and the sauce. Oh the sauce!

And I got you covered on both fronts. My 5 min Spicy Marinara is a magical sauce that works on everything! For pasta, as dips, in a quesadilla, drizzled on nachos, anything! In fact, as a general ketchup-hater, I find this Spicy Marinara to be the perfect tomato alternative!

And the crust, oh boy, you’ll hear it sing to you when you try to cut yourself a slice! The base, is as soft as a pillow but the crust, is sinfully crisp. The sauce melds with the bread, giving your crunchy vegetables a smooth ride!

And at the end of the night, if there are any leftovers (I highly doubt that!), refrigerate and use this awesome tip to reheat your pizza like a pro! Just like new!

Notes:

1. This recipe makes one Homemade Pan pizza with a crust that’s about an inch thick. If you’re looking for a thicker crust, like the deep dish pizza, double the recipe.
2. The time spent on the stove helps create that gorgeously crispy crust. Don’t skip it.
3. Use a cast iron pan to make your pizza. I use this Lodge 10″ skillet. It goes from the stove to the oven seamlessly. If you’re using any other material to cook your pizza in, be sure it’s stove + oven-proof.

When you make these (which I really think you SHOULD!), be sure to SHARE YOUR PHOTOS with me through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I’d love to see what you cook from here!

VEGAN Pan Pizza

Pile on your favorite toppings & make pizza night a bit more special with this Homemade Pan Pizza - crispy crust, soft bread & a delicious sauce!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 38 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 56 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

For the base

• 1 cup (135 g) all-purpose flour + more for dusting
• ½ cup (100 ml) lukewarm water
• ½ tbsp (7 g) sugar
• ¾ tsp (4 g) salt
• 1½ tsp (5 g) instant yeast
• Olive oil, for greasing
• ½ cup spicy marinara (recipe link in post)

Toppings

• ¼ cup onions, bite sized pieces
• ½ cup assorted colored bell peppers, sliced
• ½ cup spinach leaves
• 1 tsp Dried Italian herb seasoning
• 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes

Method

 

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Make a well in the center and pour in the lukewarm water. Mix to make a smooth dough. It might be a little sticky, it's ok.
2. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and place in a warm spot for 15-20 minutes for the dough to rise.
3. Transfer dough to a work surface lightly dusted with flour and knead for one minute until soft and springy.
4. Generously grease a 10" cast iron pan with olive oil. Make sure to grease the sides and the base.
5. Place the dough in the center and using your fingers, spread it evenly to the sides of the pan. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and let rest in a warm spot for 5 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 450F/230 C.
7. While the oven is preheating, spread marinara on the pizza dough, and top with vegetables evenly. Finally, sprinkle some dried Italian herb seasoning.
8. Onec the oven is preheated, place the cast iron pan on the stove on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
9. Immediately transfer pan to the hot oven and bake at 450F/230 C for 15 minutes. The vegetables must be wilted and cooked on the top and the base crispy.
10. Remove from the oven, and transfer to a wire rack for 5 minutes. Slice into wedges, sprinkle red pepper flakes to taste and serve hot.