Cheesy Vegan Pizza

Who doesn't love pizza? Although I didn't eat it a lot, when I gave up dairy, I was sad to say goodbye to pizza. Now I know that you don't HAVE to have cheese to make a good pizza, but to me, it really makes it. So I set about looking for something that would add the same deliciousness. And I think I've become pretty darn close with this spreadable tofu based alternative. It stops the base from drying out and adds a cheesy richness - all with the low fat content of tofu.

This pizza base recipe is a brilliant one because it's so easy - all the proving is done in the microwave so there's no waiting around while the dough sits in the hot water cupboard for hours. It's from a fabulous little book called Destitute Gourmet by Sophie Gray. Originally for calzone, it makes enough dough for 2 large, thin crust pizzas.

Ingredients:

For the base...

1 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

1 Tbs dried yeast

1 cup plain flour

1 cup wholemeal flour (or another of plain instead if you prefer)

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbs oil

For the 'cheese'...

400g carton of silken tofu

3 Tbs nutritional yeast

Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings...

Tomato paste

Crushed garlic

Mushrooms, sliced

Capsicum, sliced

Red onion, finely sliced

Olives

Mixed Italian herbs

Salt and Pepper

To make:

1) Start by turning the oven to 200°c.

2) In a small bowl, mix the water and sugar, then sprinkle the yeast evenly over the top and leave somewhere warm for 10 minutes, until it goes frothy.

3) Warm the flours in a large bowl for 1 minute in the microwave on 70%. Stir in the salt and oil, then add the frothy yeast and water mix.

4) Stir together and kneed on a well floured surface (you may have to add a little more flour as you go) for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

5) Put it back in the bowl and microwave for 1 minute on low, stand for 10 minutes. Repeat this until the dough has doubled in size, normally 2 cycles is enough.

6) While you are letting the dough stand, prepare the 'cheese' spread by pouring any excess water off the tofu and tipping it into a bowl. Add the nutritional yeast and salt & pepper and blend with a stick blender for a smooth consistency. Season to taste.

7) When the dough has doubled, divide it into 2 even portions and roll out on a floured surface. Transfer this to a greased pizza tray.

8) Spread each with tomato paste and crushed garlic, followed by the 'cheese'. Then arrange the toppings and bake for 25 minutes until the edges are risen and golden.