"We are dedicated to cruelty-free living through a vegetarian - vegan lifestyle. Let no animal suffer or die that we may live!"
This recipe is for a thick crust pizza, which we bake in an 11 inch X 17 inch stone baking pan. The finished pizza will then be cut into 12 squares, which is enough to feed four to six adults.
Place the dry dough ingredients in your dough mixer or a large bowl. If the flour is freshly ground (like ours) and is still hot from grinding, do not add the yeast until the flour has been mixed with water and has cooled down. If you prefer to use fresh garlic, use 2-3 tsp. and blend with a cup of water at high speed in your blender. Use this water-garlic mixture in place of the first water added to the dry ingredients.
Add the lecithin (pour in the estimated amount, as it is very sticky) to the dry ingredients along with the molasses and about half of the water, and mix well. Add additional water in small quantities, as needed, to facilitate proper mixing and kneading. (Don't forget to add the yeast if your flour was freshly ground.)
We prefer to coat the baking pan with a dusting of flour or corn meal to prevent sticking. We also use a little flour to help shape the dough, by placing a dusting on our counter top and on our hands. We begin by forming a ball with our hands, adding a little flour as needed. Then we press the dough out on the flour dusted counter top and work into the approximate shape of the baking pan. We turn the dough over several times during this process, and re-dust as necessary with flour.
We then transfer the dough to the baking pan. It is easier if the dough is rolled or folded prior to lifting from the counter top. Unfold the pizza dough in the baking pan and work into sides and corners. We have a little roller that makes this process very easy. Leave the edges of the dough slightly higher than the center.
Place the baking pan in the warming drawer of your oven or in another warm place to rise. When the dough has doubled in size, it is ready for the first phase of baking.
While the dough is rising, we prepare the sauce and veggies.
We cook our pizza sauce in a covered glass bowl in the microwave oven so that it doesn't burn as it's thickening.
Wash, peel, and dice the onion and place in a covered glass pot or bowl. Peel and dice or crush the garlic and add to the pot. Wash and dice the peppers and add to the pot. Add the oregano and fennel seeds.
Place the covered bowl in the microwave oven on "high" for about 5 minutes, or until the onions begin to become translucent. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and hot pepper, mix well and continue cooking on "high" in the microwave oven until the sauce begins to thicken.
Add the broccoli and nutritional yeast to the bowl, mix well, cover, and cook for another few minutes.
If cooking on the stove top, sauté the veggies in a little water in a pot. After the onions, garlic, and peppers are cooked, add the crushed tomatoes, and simmer on low heat until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pot.
When the sauce has thickened, it is ready to spread on the pizza.
Bake the pizza dough in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F. for about 15-20 minutes to firm the crust. Remove from the oven and top with the prepared sauce and veggie mix as quickly as possible so that the dough does not cool. Place back in the oven for another 15 minutes to complete the pizza.
Enjoy!
The above recipe is in keeping with God's creation intent (Genesis 1:29-31): 'Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.' (NIV) Let no animal suffer or die that we may live!