By Rissa Miller
This pizza topped with loads of veggies, is highly customizable, and great for a couple, family, or friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s elegant enough to dress up with a glass of wine, and accessible enough to eat on the sofa with a movie.
Roasted Garlic:
1 head fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and pepper, optional, to taste
1/4 cup water
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Carefully slice off the top of the garlic head, leaving most of the papery skin intact. Rub cut top with olive oil and sprinkle with salt/pepper if using. Create a “bowl” with a sheet of aluminum foil to cradle the garlic and fill the bottom of the foil with water. Fold the top closed to seal in the garlic. Place packet in a small oven-safe baking dish and roast for 45-50 minutes, until the garlic is softened, browned, and caramelized. Allow to cool before handling. This can also be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge.
White Bean Pizza Spread:
1 head pre-roasted garlic, cooled
1-1/2 cups cooked white beans, rinsed/drained
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/3 cup plain, unsweetened vegan yogurt
juice from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon olive oil or water
1 teaspoon ground rosemary
1 teaspoon cumin
Pinch red pepper flakes, optional, to taste
Salt and pepper, optional, to taste
1 large vegan pizza crust, your favorite (can be wheat or gluten-free, as desired)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Squeeze soft roasted garlic cloves from paper skins into a high-power blender or food processor and add all ingredients except pizza crust. Process on medium to high until smooth and silky. Evenly top the pizza crust with a layer of the White Bean Pizza Spread.
Select 4-5 items from the Pizza Toppings list below and spread evening over the pizza, arranging as artfully as desired. Follow crust directions, if applicable, regarding whether or not to use a baking sheet for crust; brands vary. Bake pizza for about 8-10 minutes, until crust is cooked through and crisp, and veggies are soft and slightly browned.
If desired, add 1-2 items from the Finishing Tastes list below. This step is optional, but gives the pizza an elevated complexity, for those who enjoy that kind of flavor.
Cut into slices and serve immediately.
Pizza Toppings, about 1/2 cup of each if using 4-5 items per pizza:
slivered carrots
sliced red onions
zucchini or yellow squash slices
roasted red peppers
chopped mushrooms
quartered artichoke hearts
sliced sun-dried tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes
chopped broccolini
fennel half-moons
fresh arugula
trimmed winter squash slices
Finishing Tastes, about 1 Tablespoon each if using 1-2 items per pizza:
a drizzle of balsamic vinegar
lemon juice
sunflower seeds
slivered fresh basil
chopped fresh dill
sliced olives
dried cranberries
chickpeas or black beans