29 Vegan Pizza Recipes So Good You Won't Miss The Cheese (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.

Vegan White Pizza With Artichoke Tofu Ricotta and Roasted Garlic, right, and Vegan Pizza With Miso-Caramelized Onions and Shiitake Bacon are both great – without cheese. Season dough with dried herbs and paprika for a brighter, better flavor. Artichoke Tofu Ricotta is great on pizza or as a spread or dip.

Food historians trace pizza's origins to Naples, Italy, in the 1800s, and note that it wasn't until 1889 that cheese was added as a topping. A pizza without cheese is today recognized as one of the three official authentic Neapolitan pizzas and is called pizza marinara.”

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

A vegan diet is only as healthy as you make it. Products like "vegan" ice cream, cookies, and candy are tempting, but don't overdo them. If you eat high-fat and processed foods in large portions, you may end up with many of the same health problems you'd have on a meat-based diet.

White pizza, pizza bianca or a white pie is a style of pizza that does not use tomato sauce. The pizza generally consists of pizza dough, olive oil, garlic, cheese, salt and sometimes toppings including vegetables such as spinach, tomato, and herbs.

This picture shows Mozzarella being stretched apart. “Mozzarella cheese is a popular choice for pizza because it melts nicely; you get an even coating and nice brown colour when it's heated.

What is skinny pizza called? ›

Since Neapolitan pizza is thin, it isn't designed to handle the weight of too many toppings. In fact, Neapolitan pizza is so thin that it's typically eaten with a fork and knife.

The ingredients used in vegan cheese vary depending on the type of cheese being made and the desired texture and flavor. The most commonly used ingredients include plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, agar agar, tapioca starch, coconut oil, cashews, and chickpea flour.

Vegan Options at Papa John's

It launched its first vegan menu item at the start of 2019 with the launch of pizzas topped with Sheese—a dairy-free cheese made from coconut oil. The dairy-free cheese sold out almost immediately. The chain now carries a number of other vegan pizza options.

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.

Good News, Bad News

But many vegan cheeses are made with coconut oil and other saturated fats that do affect cholesterol — and switching up one saturated fat for another isn't likely to result in a healthier lifestyle.

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.

Reduced Cholesterol: Plant-based ingredients can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, beneficial for cardiovascular health. High Fiber Content: With whole grain crusts and a variety of vegetables, vegan pizza is often higher in fiber, aiding in digestion and gut health.