Focaccia Pizza: Easy Vegan Recipe

This guide offers a step-by-step approach to making focaccia pizza, blending the ease of homemade bread with the flexibility of choosing your own toppings. From the initial knead to the final bake, learn how to make this versatile and comforting dish in your own kitchen.

In Boston’s colder months, my kitchen turns into a cozy retreat, thanks in part to the steady warmth of an old radiator. This heat source not only keeps the chill at bay but also helps play a role in my baking experiments, particularly with focaccia pizza.

The process is straightforward and unfussy, allowing for a relaxed experience that’s about as comforting as the warmth that fills the room. As the dough rises beside the radiator, it’s a simple yet satisfying nod to the small joys found in baking.

With just a bit of kneading and some patience during the rise, you’re on your way to creating a delicious, homemade focaccia pizza. The beauty of this dish lies in the versatility of the toppings: tart apples, crisp red onions, and vegan cheese are just the start.

For more pizza crust and topping ideas, check out my gluten-free quinoa pizza crust, homemade pizza dough, and buffalo cauliflower pizza.

Toppings can be swapped based on what’s on hand, encouraging a bit of creativity and flexibility. It’s a fantastic way to pair the ease of making focaccia with the personalized touch of your favorite toppings.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s a lot to love about this focaccia pizza recipe, from its ease of preparation to the perfectly balanced toppings. It’s the perfect blend of crispy edges and a soft, pillowy center, topped with a combination of ingredients that can be tailored to your liking.

Here are a few reasons why this recipe will become a go-to in your kitchen:

• Versatility in Toppings: Whether you prefer the tang of green apples or the creaminess of vegan cheese, you can customize the toppings to suit your taste.
• Simple and Satisfying: With minimal active prep time and ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, this recipe is both straightforward and fulfilling.
• Aroma and Flavor: Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread in the oven (your kitchen is going to smell amazing) and this focaccia pizza delivers on that with a bonus of delicious toppings that meld together perfectly.

Key Ingredients

The combination of earthy, salty, tart, sweet, pungent, and umami-forward toppings in this focaccia pizza creates a perfect balance of flavors. These diverse tastes complement each other, with the sweetness of apples balancing the tartness of balsamic vinegar, and the earthy walnuts offering a crunchy contrast to the soft, pillowy dough. The savory depth of the olives and vegan cheese adds layers of complexity, ensuring each bite is satisfying and comforting.

Here are some of the ingredients and the role they play in creating an amazing focaccia pizza:

Active Dry Yeast: This is the backbone of the dough, responsible for its rise and the light, airy texture we all love in focaccia. Its fermentation process not only helps the dough expand but also develops the bread’s characteristic flavor, making it an essential ingredient for that classic bread aroma.

Sugar: Sugar acts as food for the yeast, accelerating its activity and ensuring the dough rises properly. It also contributes a subtle sweetness to the dough, balancing the flavors and enhancing the golden color of the crust.

Warm Water: This activates the yeast, creating the perfect environment for it to thrive and begin the fermentation process. The temperature is crucial: if it’s too hot, it will kill the yeast, and if it’s too cold it won’t activate, missing the opportunity for that perfect rise.

All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our focaccia, giving it body and chew. Its gluten content is ideal for achieving the balance between a tender crumb and a crisp exterior, essential for a satisfying focaccia texture.

Olive Oil: Enriches the dough, adding moisture and a distinct, fruity flavor that is synonymous with Mediterranean cooking. It also gives the crust a crisp, golden finish, while keeping the interior soft.

Balsamic Vinegar: Introduces a complex acidity to the recipe, offering a counterpoint to the dough’s richness. When reduced with brown sugar, it becomes a sweet, tangy glaze that adds a glossy, flavorful finish to the pizza.

Brown Sugar: When combined with balsamic vinegar, creates a glaze that is both sweet and tart. This caramelized topping introduces a depth of flavor that complements the freshness of the other toppings.

Green Apple: Adds a crisp, tart freshness that cuts through the richness of the dough and cheese. Its slight sweetness and crunchy texture offer a refreshing contrast to the savory elements of the pizza.

Red Onion: Brings a pungent sharpness that enhances the overall flavor profile. When baked, it softens slightly, mellowing out its bite while still contributing a necessary zing that balances the dish’s richer components.

Vegan Cheese Shreds: Finding the right brand of plant-based shreds will melt properly into a creamy, savory layer. You can’t go wrong with Violife. This adds a depth of flavor and moisture, ensuring the pizza is rich and satisfying without any animal products.

Oil-Cured Olives: These are a powerhouse of umami and saltiness, adding bursts of flavor that penetrate the dough and toppings. Their chewy texture and concentrated taste are essential for adding complexity to the pizza.

Walnuts: Toasted walnuts introduce an earthy, nutty element that contrasts beautifully with the softness of the dough. Their crunch adds texture, and their rich flavor deepens the pizza’s overall taste profile.

Fresh Thyme Leaves: Lends a subtle, earthy fragrance that brightens the pizza. Their lemony, slightly minty flavor complements the savory and sweet notes, tying all the ingredients together harmoniously.

Step-By-Step Guide

Making focaccia pizza at home is a cozy and comforting experience, blending the simple pleasures of baking bread with the joy of topping it with flavors you love. This guide will walk you through each step, from mixing dough to pulling your creation out of the oven.

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Start by mixing the active dry yeast with a bit of sugar and warm water. This step is crucial for ensuring your dough will rise properly.

Tip: Make sure the water is warm but not too hot to touch; you’re looking to create a cozy bath for the yeast, not a hot tub!

Step 2: Make the Dough

Combine the activated yeast mixture with all-purpose flour, gradually adding olive oil and a little more water if needed. The goal is a dough that’s soft and slightly sticky but manageable. Knead it on a floured surface until it’s smooth.

Tip: Don’t over-knead; a few minutes should do.

Step 3: First Rise

Place your dough in a well-oiled bowl, covering it with a damp towel or cling film. Let it rise in a warm spot until it doubles in size. This is where your radiator or a slightly warm oven can come in handy, especially on chilly days.

Step 4: Shape and Second Rise

After the dough has risen, gently deflate it and shape it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or well-oiled to prevent sticking. Let it rise again slightly while you preheat your oven. This second rise gives the focaccia its signature airy texture.

Step 5: Add Toppings

Before baking, dimple the dough with your fingers to create little pockets for olive oil to pool. Then, brush it generously with olive oil, making sure to season the edges with plenty of salt. It can’t be overstated that the edges need quite a bit of salt, the coarser the better. This is going to make the flavor in our crust really pop. Then, add your toppings.

Step 6: Bake

Bake in a preheated oven until the edges are golden and crispy. The high heat helps achieve that perfect crust while keeping the inside soft and chewy.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Once out of the oven, let it cool slightly before adding any final touches like a drizzle of balsamic glaze or fresh herbs. This is best enjoyed warm, fresh from the oven, to savor the crispy edges and soft interior.

Remember, making focaccia pizza is as much about the process as it is about the end product. Take your time, enjoy the buttery aromas filling your kitchen, and don’t worry about making it perfect. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the satisfaction of creating something comforting with your own hands.

Storing And Reheating Tips

Enjoying this pizza fresh is highly recommended, as its texture and flavor are best right out of the oven. If you have leftovers, it’s worth noting that they may not reheat well, often losing the crispness and freshness that make it so delightful. It’s ideal to make an amount you can comfortably finish in one meal to savor its peak deliciousness.

Variations and Customizations

This focaccia pizza serves as a carby blank slate, allowing you to top it with anything you like. Feel free to mix and match toppings based on your preferences or what you have in your pantry. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Vegan Proteins

• Buffalo Cauliflower: Delivers a spicy, tangy taste with a satisfying crunch. Gochujang or Firecracker cauliflower would both be killer here.
• Chickpeas: Roasted for crunch or seasoned for a burst of spice.
• Field Roast Grain Meat Sausages: Offers a savory, meaty bite.
• Impossible Sausages: Brings richness and depth, mimicking traditional sausage.
• Seitan: Provides a chewy, meat-like texture, great for absorbing flavors.
• Tempeh: Nutty and hearty, perfect for adding a substantial bite.
• Tofu: Versatile and can be marinated or seasoned for extra flavor.
• Vegan Pepperoni: Adds a classic pizza flavor with a spicy kick.

Vegan Cheese

• Daiya: Offers a variety of flavors with a classic melt.
• Follow Your Heart: Provides a range of options from gouda to feta styles.
• Miyoko’s: Artisanal cheeses that add a gourmet touch.
• Nutritional Yeast: For a cheesy flavor boost, sprinkle over the top before serving.
• Vegan Parmesan: Offering a deep umami flavor, adds a salty kick.
• Violife: Known for its creamy texture and great meltability.
• Cultured Cashew Ricotta: Perfect for dolloping on last-minute!

Vegetables

• Artichokes: Offers a briny, tangy flavor.
• Arugula: Introduces a peppery kick.
• Bell Peppers: Sweet and colorful, can be baked or sauteed for crunch.
• Broccoli: Roast it for a crunchy, nutty addition.
• Kale: Crispy when baked, with a bitter edge.
• Mushrooms: Earthy, with a meaty texture.
• Onions: Sweet when caramelized, sharp when raw.
• Shallots: Milder and sweeter than onions.
• Spinach: Adds a mild, earthy flavor.
• Tomatoes: Fresh or sun-dried for a tangy sweetness.
• Zucchini: Mild and slightly sweet. Adds moisture, so give it a squeeze before adding it.

Other Toppings

• Capers: Salty and tangy. Adds a burst of flavor.
• Fresh Basil: Adds a fragrant, fresh finish.
• Garlic: Roasted or raw, or confit for a pungent kick.
• Olives: Black or green, adds a hit of brininess.
• Pesto: For a herby, nutty addition with a pop of green.
• Pine Nuts: Toast them for a crunchy, buttery texture.
• Red Pepper Flakes: For a nice concentrated bite of heat.
• Sun-dried Tomatoes: Chewy, bright, and intensely flavored.

Final Thoughts On This Focaccia Pizza Recipe

In this guide, you’ve learned the straightforward steps to crafting your own focaccia pizza that perfectly marries the soft, airy qualities of focaccia bread with the rich, savory toppings of traditional pizza.

This easy vegan recipe not only simplifies the process with accessible ingredients and clear instructions but also opens up a canvas for creativity, allowing you to experiment with flavors and textures.

From the initial mixing of the dough to the final, satisfying bite, making focaccia pizza at home invites you to engage with your food in a hands-on way, promising delicious results that are sure to make this recipe a favorite.

Whether you’re cooking for comfort or aiming to impress, this focaccia pizza balances ease and versatility, making it a rewarding endeavor for any home cook.

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