October 3, 2012

Tandoori Tofu Vegan Pizza Recipe

Makes 2 30cm diameter pizzas

Jerome and I have been celebrating our 'Mexican Mondays' to try and make our dinner nights more exciting. Now we have undertaken 'Spicy Saturdays' to make ourselves even more bizarre. Anywho, I have been asking Jerome what he misses most since we have turned to a vegan lifestyle and he said that he craves Indian takeaway food. So since then I have been writing recipes for vegan alternatives to all of his naughty food cravings. Tandoori tofu was one of them and we had a freezer full of pizza bases so I decided to make a Tandoori Tofu Pizza. Ohhh it was so delicious! You must try this.. the combination of the sweetness, sourness and spiciness makes a crazy party in your mouth. 

Jerome has been very busy lately making food photography props, wooden chopping boards and bases for Veggieful's photographs. He is so cute! I sit in my lounge-room in the sun reading cookbooks and drinking tea while I watch him on the balcony with all his tools, nails and those little flat-headed screw-driver things. He is getting really good with his carpentry. Also, our kitchen windowsills are now filled with our own home-grown herbs in little silver tins. They look amazing! I love being in the kitchen and cooking/baking while being surrounded by nature and greenery. The smells of the herbs is beautiful while I stand there washing up my massive pile of measuring cups and mixing bowls. I love it that he is so dedicated to making our house look nice. From making rustic blackboards with romantic little messages to shopping at Ikea for cute pots and tins for our plants, he never ceases to amaze me! Anyway, I hope that you love this pizza dish. Please don't be intimidated by the amount of ingredients and the steps... it is a really easy dish! Have a nice day :)


Vegan Natural Yoghurt (Used for 3 steps)
    300g silken tofu
    4 tablespoons lemon juice
    1 tablespoon Soy Milky Lite
    1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Tandoori Marinated Tofu
    300g extra firm tofu, diced and drained
    1 tablespoon tandoori paste
    2 garlic cloves, crushed
    1 tablespoon vegan yoghurt (recipe above)

Tandoori Base Sauce
    vegan yoghurt (recipe above)
    1 tablespoon tandoori paste
    1 tablespoon sugar
    1 garlic clove, minced

Mint Yoghurt
    vegan yoghurt (recipe above)
    1 tablespoon mint leaves, thinly sliced

Other
    2 pizza bases
    coriander leaves to garnish
    1 red onion, thinly sliced
    3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
    2 handfuls baby spinach
    1 tablespoon oil
    salt and pepper


  1. Make the natural yoghurt - process silken tofu, lemon juice, soymilk and apple cider vinegar until completely smooth. (This yoghurt will be used for three different components: the tandoori marinade, the pizza base sauce and the garnishing mint yoghurt)
  2. Make the tandoori marinated tofu - add the diced extra-firm tofu to a bowl. Top with the tandoori paste, garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon of the vegan yoghurt (made in step 1). Stir until tofu is evenly coated. If possible, allow to marinate in the fridge for about 3 hours. If you in a hurry, allow at least half an hour.
  3. Make pizza base sauce - Take half of the remaining vegan yoghurt mixture (from step 1) and put it in a bowl. Add the tandoori paste, sugar and the garlic clove. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust the sweetness and saltiness if needed. Set aside.
  4. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
  5. Make the mint yoghurt sauce - Add the remaining yoghurt mixture (from step 1) to a bowl with the mint leaves. Stir to combine and set aside.
  6. Add the marinated tofu and the oil in a pan. Fry on high heat until browned on all sides. Set aside.
  7. Line two pizza trays with baking paper or spray oil. Add the pizza bases to the trays and divide the pizza base sauce on both. Spread with a spoon until both pizza bases are evenly covered. Top with the onions, cherry tomatoes and the marinated tofu. 
  8. Bake for approx. 30 minutes until slightly browned on top.
  9. Serve hot with a drizzle of mint yoghurt, salt and freshly cracked black pepper and a handful of baby spinach on each pizza. Enjoy!


  • If you like your tandoori base sauce a bit sweeter, increase the sugar content.
  • Make sure to set aside the correct amounts for the natural yoghurt which is used for 3 different steps.
  • Add any of your favourite pizza toppings.
  • You can purchase the vegan natural yoghurt and pizza bases or make your own. Your choice!

24 comments :

  1. I never tried tandoori sauce. I wonder how it tastes.
    The picture looks great as usual.
    Great job, Jerome!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Venera! Oh thanks so much. He was very happy to hear that and had a big smile on his face hehe. :) Tandoori sauce is really delicious... with lots of spices normally including garam masala, chilli, turmeric, cumin, ginger and garlic. But there are so many different ways to make it. You should try it ^-^

      Delete
  2. At first I want to says you are so pretty )
    And thank you very much for this recipe, and entire recipe on your great site. I try to make vegan food for my mother and myself, but hard to find a good recipe, to change our taste like this. Thank you very much. I must go to find the Tandoori sauce, maybe can buy from Indian Store? [I am in Vietnam]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Le Phuong! Thank you so much :) I am glad that you like Veggieful. You would definitely be able to buy it from the Indian store but I normally just get it from my local supermarket. You should try your local grocery store first and see if it is available :) Thanks for your comment!

      Delete
  3. Waw! About bezing creative! Waw!

    Every component looks very special & very tasty too, dear Madison! It all combines beautifully too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sophie! Oh you are so sweet with all of your lovely comments. You make me so happy :)

      Delete
  4. Aw I love Mexican Mondays! Such a cute idea! And your pizza looks delish :) I've never made anything with a tandoori sauce before but this sounds so good, will have to try!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved the recipe ... the 'yoghurt sauce' was fantastic and the pizza was just great. I think I'll be a bit quicker making it the next time ;) ... and there will definitely be a next time.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I am so glad that you enjoyed it and that there will be a next time. I enjoyed it so much too hehe :)

      Delete
  6. Oooh yumz, this looks delish! Unfortunately been pizza deprived and rather indian deprived since becoming vegan so this...this makes me smile!
    Although if u dont mind, what type/where do u buy a your vegan-friendly tandoori paste from? ( im a Melbournian btw :P )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I am glad that it makes you smile :) It definitely made Jerome and I excited hehe.

      You can buy vegan tandoori paste from Woolworths and sometimes even Aldi. Just check the ingredients. Sharwood's Tandoori paste from Woolworths is really nice and was vegan the last time I checked. But always check again... because you never know when they will change the ingredients. If you can't get it from Aldi or Woolworths try your local Indian supermarket or health food shop. I am sure you will find it somewhere :)

      Delete
  7. Yeeeeeeeeeeeee lol thanks 4 that! Super excited 4 gettin ma itialian on & eatin me some pizza magic ..... From mexico =] teehee round the world in ne dinner anyone? :P

    And sharwoods?!?!? Wowee, talk bout super convenient! Never occurrd to me that they wuld be pumpin out some vegan-tandoori lovin!
    Oh and btw - totes got some smoked-tofu in the fridge screamin to be paired with ur awesome creation....WIN!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I am glad that it helped you :) I know, it is so great that you purchase vegan tandoori paste from your supermarket. Thanks so much! I hope you love the dishes as much as I do ^^

      Delete
  8. Made this pizza the other night loved it, especially like the vegan natural yogurt and mint yoghurt, yum. Can't remember if I took a photo or not. Thanks Maddi. (made the Pumpkin & Rosemary Risotta again last night, it is one of my favourite. Michelle :)
    Left overs tonight....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle! I love this pizza too! Yum yum yum :) Send me your photos when you have time. I love to see the piccies! Mum really loves this pizza too! Oooooo I love the risotto too... I haven't made it for a while. I will make it again soon!

      Delete
  9. Looks so good can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks yummy! I'll have to try this recipe out. I've just recently decided to go vegan!

    ReplyDelete
  11. yummy pizza my step daughter didnt even realise she was eating tofu xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. So tasty. Would it work with coconut yoghurt as a shortcut?

    ReplyDelete