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.

Chicago-style pizza usually refers to deep-dish pizza, which is a thick pizza baked in a pan and layered with cheese, fillings like meat and vegetables, and sauce–in that order. The crust is usually two to three inches tall and gets slightly fried due to the oil in the pan.

Often times, pizza dough is naturally vegan. The basic pizza dough formula is just water, flour, yeast, and salt. The only times that eggs or dairy are used for a bread recipe is typically just for enriched doughs (like brioche or cinnamon rolls– which we have the vegan options for on the blog!).

A: Typically yes, most pizza dough is vegan since it's made from water, flour, yeast, and salt.

Health Benefits

Reduced Saturated Fat and Cholesterol: Vegan pizza eliminates animal products, which are sources of saturated fats and dietary cholesterol. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and other health issues.

The best flour for making New York Style Pizza Dough is all-purpose flour. This type of pizza dough is thin, crispy, and chewy. All-purpose flour is a blend of hard and soft wheat flour. It has a medium protein content, which makes it perfect for New York Style Pizza Dough.

Because honey is made by living bees, it is technically not vegan, so most vegans exclude it from their diet. You can try plant-based alternatives like agave, maple syrup, and date syrup.

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

Can vegans eat yeast? ›

Although yeast is technically alive—it's a single-celled organism that metabolizes food into energy—it's no more an animal than other fungi such as mushrooms. Therefore, yeast is generally accepted as part of a vegan diet.

Here in the US, there are no vegan-by-default pizza options at Domino's. You can, however, build your own vegan pizza, from the crust to the toppings—just no dairy-free cheese. There is a sliver of hope, though.

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.

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.

Lower Saturated Fats: Compared to meat-heavy or extra-cheese pizzas, veggie pizzas generally contain fewer saturated fats, which is beneficial for heart health. Lower Cholesterol: Including vegetables and reduced quantities of high-fat ingredients contribute to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

However, not all meat substitutes are unhealthy. If you know how to read labels and choose healthier plant-based meat options, you will be able to find vegan meat made with organic ingredients sourced from whole foods that are lower in sodium and higher in both fiber and iron.