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Bake it up, Baby

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil!

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Today’s an extra-special day!!!

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil! | Whisk and Shout

I mean of course, apart from having a project, two essays, and two midterms due in the next two days (why). Today we’re actually celebrating something pretty epic.


David of Spiced and his wife Laura are expecting their very first bundle of joy!! Congratulations, guys 🙂

DavidVirtualShower

Spiced is one of my favorite food blogs out there, and David has definitely made a personal impact in the blogging community beyond just his totally delicious food. So us food bloggers decided to pay back the love in the form of this virtual baby shower!

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil! | Whisk and Shout

When the theme of the shower was ‘dude food’, I immediately thought of my dad (which is probably a mistake because he is not exactly the manliest of men… if you’re reading this, Appa, you know it’s true).

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil! | Whisk and Shout

My dad has always been a huge fan of white pizza. And as of last summer, my dad is also a vegan. So I figured, what better way to celebrate the two than by making the most trashed-up, sinful vegan pizza ever?

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil! | Whisk and Shout

Vegan food sometimes gets a bad reputation because a lot of the time it’s really healthy. I’ve made vegan pizzas before, and I’ve reached for whole wheat crusts, lighter tomato-based sauces, and tons of veggies.

Not this time, people. Not this time.

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil! | Whisk and Shout

This pizza has three kinds of ‘cheese’ that you typically see on a white pizza. The sauce (a creamy vegan bechamel), the ricotta (made with tofu), and the extra cheese my dad and I always used to request (vegan mozzarella).

In addition, this pizza is topped with fresh spinach and basil for a pop of color and flavor!

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil! | Whisk and Shout

Pizza is something everyone can relate to. It’s ‘how do we make compromises so that everyone gets their favorite toppings’ food. It’s weekend night, ‘how is it taking so long to get here’ food. It’s ‘I thought you had the tip ready!’ food. Pizza is family food.

So with an extra little person soon to be in the house, I’m wishing my absolute best to David and Laura (and that always includes pizza).

5.0 from 6 reviews
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Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil!
Author: 
Recipe type: Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4-6
 
This vegan white pizza combines creamy bechamel sauce, tofu ricotta, and a sprinkling of vegan mozzarella with fresh spinach and basil for an easy and delicious pizza you won't believe is entirely plant-based!
Ingredients
  • One refrigerated pizza crust (I used Trader Joe's brand)
Bechamel Sauce
  • ¼ cup (4 tbsp) vegan butter
  • ½ a red onion, diced finely
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Tofu Ricotta
  • 3.5 oz (1/4 a 14-oz block) extra firm tofu, crumbled
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
  • ½ cup packed baby spinach
  • ½ cup vegan mozzarella shredded cheese (I used Daiya)
  • 8-12 basil leaves
Instructions
  1. Remove dough from fridge and let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes minimum.
  2. Preheat oven to 425 F.
  3. For bechamel, combined butter, onion, and garlic over medium heat and sauté till onion begin to become translucent.
  4. Add cornstarch and stir until a paste (a roux) forms.
  5. Add almond milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and bring heat down to low, whisking until thickened. Turn heat off and let sauce continue to thicken. Adjust seasonings.
  6. Combine tofu ricotta ingredients and set aside.
  7. Roll out dough on a well floured surface and transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  8. To assemble, ladle bechamel over top (you will have extra sauce). Next, add some spinach and tofu ricotta. Lastly, top with lots of daiya.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes and cool on wire rack before topping with fresh basil and serving.

Check out the other recipes that are a part of the shower!

Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Hand Pies by American Heritage Cooking

Chocolate Bacon Toffee by Bakerita

Pumpkin Beer Soft Pretzels by Baking A Moment

No Bake Salted Caramel Apple Slice by The Big Man’s World

Philadelphia Cheesesteak – Southern Style by Beer Girl Cooks

Shredded BBQ Chicken Nachos by Blahnik Baker

Cinnamon Churros by Cooking With Manali

Grilled Brown Butter Burgers with Swiss + Bourbon Mushrooms by Cooking for Keeps

Cider Braised Brisket by Foodness Gracious

Ham Potato and Corn Chowder by Gather For Bread

Mini Croques Monsieur Sandwiches by Hip Foodie Mom

Wolfpack-Style Meatballs by The Iron You

Pecan Praline Popcorn by Jem Of The South

No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Pecan Tarts by Kevin Is Cooking

Maple Sriracha Pulled Pork Mini Pies by Life Made Sweeter

Vanilla Almond Snowball Cake by Pizzazzerie

Something Amazing by Real Food By Dad

Cinnamon Bacon Donuts by Runnin Srilankan

Buffalo Garlic Knots by Shared Appetite

Spicy Butternut Bacon Deviled Eggs by Snixy Kitchen

Maple Bourbon Bacon Chocolate Donuts by URBAN BAKES

Vegan White Pizza with Spinach & Basil by Whisk & Shout

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Comments

  2. David @ Spiced says

    Oh my gosh! I am totally blown away by this post, Medha. Thank you so much, and I truly mean that! This pizza looks amazing, and tofu ricotta? Uhh…awesome! And you’re right, pizza ALWAYS makes things better! 🙂

    Reply

  7. Lauren says

    I love this idea, it is such a lovely gesture. White Pizza!! This looks great, why did I read this so close to lunchtime?!?!

    Psst good luck on the midterms 😉

    Reply

  13. Ambar says

    Good luck with school, i know how crazy it can be! BTW this recipe looks AMAZING. I love that your using a different sauce than just regular tomato sauce!

    Reply

  20. Monica says

    Great choice of ‘dude food’. I know the “dudes” in my life would enjoy this. : ) Of course, it looks more than yummy enough for the ladies as well. Bring on the pizza!

    Reply

  22. Julia says

    Maaaaaaw happy baby shower to David and Laura! This white pizza looks absolutely amazing and sharable – definitely a tasty treat to bring to any gathering! Love it, lady!

    Reply

  27. Izzy says

    Wow, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate these days! I hope you get through everything! In the meantime, you should probably be eating all this pizza! White pizza is one of my favorites!

    Reply

  31. Emily@Oat&Sesame says

    Wow! I’m impressed with your virtual camaraderie ! What a sweet baby shower! I’ve been searching for ways to substitute cream and cheese. This recipe sounds like a great place to start! Thanks!

    Reply

  32. elizabeth@top cookware online says

    OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!! Everything. This post. I need to come do this with you next year. Consider it a date. I’m so excited already that *I’m* clapping and jumping up and down and having a group hug (with myself, on the inside). Also I want this terribly, desperately, eternally. The whole thing, the photos, the pizza, the forest, the YUM.

    Reply

  34. Melissa says

    Stop the presses. STOP. Your vegan bechamel is beyond. I used it on my homemade vegan pizza dough. Then added thinly sliced zucchini and baby spinach. Topped with shredded Daiya Jalapeño Havarti and some chilli flakes. Was amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

    Reply

  35. Dan says

    Made this recipe tonight and we all loved it! We make pizza all of the time and this is one of my favorite pizzas!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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