7.16.2013

Thin Crust Cashew "Cheese" Vegan Pizza Mouthgasm


I promised all of my Facebook friends that I would post this recipe today. So whether they want to use it or not, I figured I could use some practice in following through.

I'm a little off the grid right now (or a lot) because I'm working on something pretty big and exciting. As I work on that, I'm trying to sort out some balance for when I don't need to put all of my time into it. I'm pretty excited about the whole thing, and some of you might be too. Hopefully I find some time for a real update before too long. I've got a queue of recipes to share, we went camping (okay we tried), and I want to talk about some other changes. Eventually....now I just need to get this recipe out there.

Last night I wanted to make a pizza. I've made quite a few homemade pizzas, some before we were vegan, lots of different dough and crust experiments, so I felt daring and confident enough to fly by the seat of my pants. Zero recipes, zero Pinterest reference pictures, just my surprisingly intuitive rationing skills. I was expecting it to be just good, but it turned out to be the best pizza I've made yet. High five! I use only whole wheat flour, so if you want to use white/all purpose you will need more. I've struggled with perfect thin wheat crust as long as I've been making pizza. Nailed it this time.



Starting at the beginning, with the sauce:

3 medium vine tomatoes
7 cloves garlic
2-3 tbsp EVOO
Sprinkle of sea salt and pepper.

Roast in a 450 degree oven for about 35 minutes, stirring once in the middle.

While that's roasting away start your dough:
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp instant dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp EVOO
1 tsp sea salt (fine)
2 cups whole wheat flour.

Place the water in a mixing bowl, sprinkle with yeast and sugar, and whisk it together then let it activate for 5-10 minutes. Before you move on you should have a nice dense foam on top. While that activates prep/slice your preferred toppings. Don't go too heavy on them or you'll have a soggy pizza and your palate will be overloaded.

This is also when you can start quick soaking some cashews in hot water for the "cheese", in a bowl or something (not the blender because you'll need it for the sauce first).
1 cup hot water
1 1/2 cup raw cashews
Pinch of salt
Other seasonings ( I used 2 tbsp nooch and a few dry basil leaves)

Cover it and set aside.

Back to the dough... Add in the oil and salt and mix. Dump in your flour and go to town mixing until you have a completely combined, non sticking ball. Cover the bowl and let it rest about 10 minutes. After that you should mix  a little more and then knead it with a bread hook attachment on a mixer or with your hands until the ball becomes smooth and elastic. Flatten the ball between your hands and stretch from the center, evenly in all directions until it's about 6-8 inches in diameter, then set it on a lightly oiled pizza stone or pan and roll out thin to the edges.

Pull the roasting stuff out and scoop it into your blender or food processor.

Turn up the oven to 500 degrees.

Hydrate the tomatoes and add:
1/4 cup water
1 tsp sugar
Pinch sea salt

Blend just slightly so it's equally smooth and chunky. Pour it on to the crust and smooth out evenly. Rinse your blender/processor and add soaking cashews with water to it. Blend until very smooth, and distribute like the sauce, with a light hand or it will be a orange mess.

Add your remaining toppings and bake for 9-14 minutes depending on how crisp you like your crust.

Purr a little, ooh and ah, and send me your thanks! Haha. Hope you try it sometime at least.
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