Vegan Deep Dish Pizza | Gluten-Free Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

FAQs

Is vegan pizza junk food? ›

Now, vegan pizza isn't perfect — vegan cheese and vegan meat are typically very high in fat and salt, after all — but in many cases, it's a healthier alternative to traditional pizza. Thanks to a vegan pie's lack of meat and dairy, you don't have to worry about consuming cholesterol or carcinogens.

Almond flour is great for gluten-free cooking, paleo recipes, heart-healthy pizza recipes, and for anyone that may be seeking a flour replacement. When I get that craving for pizza, I have chosen to eat wheat-free pizza crust for the past two years.

The most unique and recognizable element of Chicago pizza, deep-dish crust is at least an inch deep, allowing room for extra sauce and toppings. With its even higher crust, stuffed pizza resembles a pot pie or casserole dish more than a New York-style thin-crust pie!

The secret to great dough isn't kneading or throwing . . .

It's good old-fashioned H20. “Water, water, water,” says Falco. “Pizza dough made at home should be 50 percent water. Pizza needs to cook longer in a home oven, which means the dough needs to be more hydrated.”

Vegan junk food: Vegan ice cream, candy, cookies, chips and sauces generally contain just as much added sugar and fat as their non-vegan counterparts. Plus, they contain almost no vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds.

Almond flour is a little more moist than wheat flour, and doesn't have quite the same binding qualities. You'll do best to substitute 1:1 to begin with, as many recipes respond well to this direct replacement. But be prepared to add more almond flour as you go to compensate for the wetter batter.

This crust doesn't have a prominent almond flavor, thanks to the addition of garlic and oregano. It's the perfect base for any of your favorite pizza toppings. It's allergy friendly. Almond flour is naturally gluten-free, and you can make this crust without egg or dairy, if you need a Paleo or vegan option.

For Crispy and Chewy Pizza Crust, Use 00 Flour

00 flour is finely ground Italian flour that contains about 12% protein, or 12% gluten. It's the traditional flour used to make Neapolitan-style pizza. Since its gluten content is similar to bread flour, it also produces a pizza crust with chew.

What city is famous for deep dish pizza? ›

You might be wondering, why is Chicago attached to the deep-dish pizza title? That's because it was invented here and loved by so many. Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo invented Chicago deep-dish pizza. These two used their love for business and Italian cuisine and opened Pizzeria Uno in Chicago in 1943.

The acidic properties of vinegar inhibit gluten, some will say. This theory proposes that once the water and flour are combined, gluten starts forming, causing the dough to grow tough. Adding an acid, the theory goes, stops the gluten in its tracks and rescues the crust from toughness.

Milk (liquid): Strengthens gluten, helps crust brown, softens the crumb. An enzyme in milk slows the growth of the yeast and it can break down the protein in the flour and weaken the dough. Scalding the milk destroys this enzyme.

Abundance of Nutrients: Vegan pizza allows you to enjoy the abundance of nutrients found in plant-based ingredients. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds used in vegan pizza are packed with essential vitamins (such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate) and minerals (such as potassium, magnesium, and iron).

This probably isn't the answer you wanted, but here it is: Most vegan cheese is not healthy at all. This is because most vegan cheeses are very high in saturated fat and contain little or no protein.

The Bottom Line. Pizza is not only delicious but can also be a healthy meal choice when thought is put into its preparation. Though many frozen and fast-food varieties tend to be high in calories, fat, sodium and other unhealthy ingredients, pizza can be made healthier.

The truth is, just because something is vegan, doesn't mean it's healthy. There are plenty of nutritious vegan foods out there (find out more about those by following our guide to a whole foods, plant-based diet), but French fries and nuggets usually aren't among them.