Vegetarian Pizza (Italy)

Vegetarian Pizza (Italy)
Vegetarian Pizza (Italy)

Vegetarian

Most countries have a vegetarian pizza option.

These shouldn’t be mistaken for Vegan however, as normally they include Cheese.

Although now with Vegan Cheeses and doughs, it is becoming more common to see Vegan pizza too.

If you crave Vegetarian pizza with Tomato pizza sauce you will welcome this one.

Pizza is the ultimate food for both lunch and dinner. For lunch, it’s the perfect grab and go meal that will keep you full and energized throughout the day. Plus, with so many toppings to choose from, you can switch it up every day and never get bored.

For dinner, pizza is the perfect comfort food that brings people together. It’s great for casual get-togethers with friends, or even more formal family dinners. The best part is that it’s versatile, you can make it as healthy or indulgent as you want.

Add some vegetables for a more balanced meal or go for a classic pepperoni for a satisfying cheesy bite. Overall, pizza’s convenience, tastyness, and versatility make it the perfect food for both lunch and dinner.

Pizza in Italy

A Naples invention, Pizza originated in Italy in the 1700’s, and they know how to craft the perfect pizza. Naples is the most famous location for pizza in the entire world, and you can still visit the world’s oldest pizzeria, the stunning Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba.

Take a look at some of the other pizzas from Italy here.

Vegetarian Pizza at a glance
Origin Italy
Type Vegetarian
Sauce Tomato Sauce

Vegetarian Pizza Recipe

Want to make a delicious home baked Vegetarian Pizza ? We’ve got you covered! Below, we’ve created a recipe that’s easy to follow, whether you’re using a backyard pizza oven or your typical kitchen oven.

Preparation time
Dough 2 hours
Assembly 10 minutes
Baking 12-20 minutes

Vegetarian Pizza Ingredients

Get enough of the toppings that you will need for the amount of pizzas you plan to make. The dough and sauce amounts below are for 3-4 medium sized pizzas, so scale up or down, based on your requirements.

Vegetarian Pizza

Simple Pizza dough

  • 250 ml (1 cup) lukewarm water
  • 400 g (2 2/3 cups) plain flour, plus extra to dust
  • 7 grams (2 tsps) dried yeast
  • 1/4 cup (3 tbsp) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons table salt

Vegetarian Pizza Toppings

Toppings used in this pizza recipe, are;

  • Mozzarella
  • Zucchini
  • Eggplant
  • Peppers
  • Olive Oil

Tomato Pizza Sauce

  • 1 (6oz/170g) can of tomato paste
  • 1 can (15oz/420g) diced or crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 small onion
  • 1 tbsp dried Italian herbs

Want to try a different sauce? See our article on the different types of pizza sauces.

TIP

You can click on any of the tags at the bottom of this page, to find other pizzas besides Vegetarian Pizza, that use that topping.

Homemade pizza dough

Pizza Dough Method

You can purchase a premade pizza base at your local shop or make your own dough following the simple steps below.

  1. Whisk yeast and lukewarm water in glass or plastic container. Let stand for approximately 5 minutes.
  2. Add salt and flour in a large bowl. Create a hollow well in the middle and gently pour the liquid yeast mixture and oil.
  3. Using your hands or spatula, gently combine the flour mixture until smooth. Then turn out dough onto lightly floured surface and hand knead for roughly five minutes.
  4. Place the dough mixture in to an oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place until the dough has at least risen to double in size.
  5. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Hand knead gently for five minutes until reasonably smooth.
  6. Divide dough mix into equal amounts, now roll out the bases to the desired size.
  7. Sprinkle some flour on work surface before rolling out dough to prevent any sticking.

TIP: We have other dough recipes if you would like to try your hand at sourdough, poolish or more.

Tomato Pizza Sauce

Tomato Pizza Sauce Method

It takes around five minutes to make this tasty pizza sauce following the simple steps below, or you can purchase a bottle of pizza sauce at your local shop.

  1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Mix well using a whisk, or blender.
  3. Leave sitting for five minutes.
  4. Your sauce is now ready. Enjoy!
  5. Keep sauce in fridge or freeze for future use.

You can add a splash of olive oil for a great taste.

Preparing Vegetarian Pizza

Switch oven on to at least 450 degrees and preheat for at least 30 minutes.

Stretch out dough into a circle, on a floured surface.

If you are using a pizza steel or stone, make sure it is preheating in oven.

Now it’s time to add the sauce. This recipe calls for Tomato Sauce. Spread the Tomato Sauce around the pizza base, leaving a gap at edges.

Add your ingredients in size, from the largest to smallest.

Cheese should be sprinkled on at the end.

Toppings for this pizza are;

  • Mozzarella
  • Zucchini
  • Eggplant
  • Peppers
  • Olive Oil

I find this pizza very tasty on its own, or why not try it with other pizza types?

Oven time

Put the Vegetarian pizza in the middle of your oven (on a pizza steel if you have one) and set timer for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, open oven and look at pizza.

The pizza should be done within roughly 15 minutes. Always cook to personal tastes.

About Eggplant

Often called aubergine, Eggplant is a low calorie vegetable with high amounts of fiber and a range of nutrients. The humble eggplant spread into Southern Italy during the 9th century, as Arabs brought them along with them as they expanded into the region.
When first growing, Eggplants grow small oval, white fruits that look just like eggs from Chicken. As a result, British gardeners named these “egg-plants” for their appearance.

Pizza Tools

When making Vegetarian Pizza, it’s always handy to have the right pizza making tools. Here’s what items I always recommend…

Pizza Steel

Very similar to a pizza stone, a pizza steel is made of, you guessed it, steel. It’s a great modern method to heat pizza well in a normal oven.

Rubber Spatula

A quality rubber spatula really helps when it comes to scraping bowls and plates, etc.

Dough Mixer

Having a good dough mixer can make all the difference. You don’t want to be manually kneading forever, do you?

 

Zucchini

Zucchini is a type of squash that is native to the Americas. It has a green, cylindrical shape, and has a tender, slightly crunchy texture. It is often used in salads, soups, and other dishes, and is a popular ingredient in many different cuisines.

Zucchini has a mild, slightly sweet flavor, and is a healthy and delicious vegetable. It is a great choice for people who want to add more vegetables to their diet, and is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Storage Tips

Here are a few storage tips, if you have any dough or pizza left over after the meal.

Store in the fridge

Leftover slices of pizza may be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheating pizza

Warm in the center of a 450 degree F oven for approximately 6 minutes, on a pizza stone if possible, until heated through. See our article on reheating pizza for more.

Freezer guide

You can store leftover pizza in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen as directed above until heated through.

Pizza making FAQ

Want to make great pizza at home? Here are some expert answers to some of the most Frequently asked questions.

How do I make pizza in a cast iron skillet?

It is easy to make pizza in a cast iron skillet! Just preheat your cast iron skillet or pan, carefully lay your stretched-out pizza dough inside, add your pizza toppings and cheese, return the pan to the oven, and bake away. If you find it sticks, try adding more flour or oil underneath the base when placing it in the skillet.

Is it OK to use store-bought pizza dough?

Of course it is! It’s fine to use pizza dough you bought at the store. In fact, in many cases you can buy balls of pizza dough from your favorite pizzeria, if you ask nicely. Make sure that the ingredients belong there (flour, sugar, salt, yeast) and not lots of preservatives. If the dough you buy is chilled, always let it come fully to room temperature before you use it.

How to freeze pizza?

Pizza is best frozen not long after it has cooled from cooking. Ensure that it is wrapped well, or in a zip lock bag and air tight. Consume the pizza within 2-3 months.

Have you made Vegetarian Pizza?

Vegetarian Pizza matters to us, let us know! Tag us on our Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you thought of it! I’d love to know.

 

Featured image: Source