Many people fear plunging into veganism because they find it difficult to let go of cheese and other dairy products. However, there's no need to get rid of favorite recipes, like pizza, because there are many simple substitutions that are easy to prepare, like this pizza "cheese" sauce.
It's a simple recipe that beginners will have no problem delving into. Most of the ingredients are commonly found at any grocery store, or at your local natural food supplier.
The following recipe tastes like smoky cheddar. When baked, it melts a little and has a glazed skin effect, much like dairy cheese.
It's also a very versatile cheese. It can be used as a dipping sauce for pitas, a pasta sauce for macaroni and cheese, and it's also a creamy accompaniment to veggies like sliced bell peppers or cauliflower. Using this sauce, it's easy to make a vegan rendition of the common favorite of broccoli and cheese sauce. It can even be thickened with a little more cornstarch and used as a spread in sandwiches.
It's best when it's used fresh, but doubling the recipe works just fine. It's fun to switch up the herbs used. Feel free to add any fresh herbs on hand when the sauce is reaching it's thickening point. This will add flavor and flair. Oregano works quite well, as does basil for pizzas. Dill gives it a perfect aroma that goes well if you use it as a dipping sauce for veggies or potatoes.
Vegan Pizza Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water or soymilk
- 1 tsp soy sauce or Braggs1/4 tsp garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder or Spike seasoning
- 1 Tb. tahini
- 1 Tb lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp smoke flavoring
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 3 Tb ground oats
- 1 Tb cornstarch
- 1 Tb flour
- sprinkle of dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/4 tsp. tumeric (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tb. olive oil
Directions
- Mix cool water or soymilk in a large cup with the flour and cornstarch until smooth.
- Put water mixture into a saucepan and begin heating on medium heat.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil.
- Continue heating and stirring until mixture thickens to desired consistency.
- Stir in the olive oil until fully incorporated.
- Spoon over pizza and heat according to your pizza recipe.
So, enjoying a vegan pizza is incredibly simple. This particular vegan pizza cheese recipe has been kid-approved and well used and enjoyed by non-vegans and vegans, alike. It's an inexpensive and tasty way to add some zing to your next pizza night.
The human body has no more need for cows' milk than it does for dogs' milk, horses' milk, or giraffes' milk. ~Michael Klaper
Resources:
Raw Vegan Blueberry Strawberry Pie
