Pizza is one of the most beloved foods in the world. One of the best things about it is its versatility. There are countless combinations, from a classic Margherita and Meat Lover's pie to Hawaiian, Chicago deep-dish, etc.

Most pizzerias allow you to customize your pizza. So, you can always turn a cheese one into creative deliciousness by picking the toppings you prefer.

On that note, many people have preferences when it comes to their diet. And since we don't want anybody to miss out on pizza, restaurants offer options such as gluten-free, Cauliflower crust, vegetarian, and vegan.

Today, we'll take a closer look at vegan pizza. No worries, any foodie on a specific diet can enjoy a vegan slice. Or even if you simply want to try it and check out how it tastes, you can absolutely do so.

As you may know, vegan food is defined by the absence of animal products. That means no meats, eggs, or dairy products.

So, how does vegan pizza achieve this? Well, you think of regular pizza ingredients and look for adequate substitutes.

Firstly, a vegan pizza dough is basically like the regular version. That's because pizza dough is made of flour, yeast, water, and salt - all vegan by default.

The same goes for the pizza sauce, which already covers two main parts. Now, the cheese is obviously more tricky. But a great substitute is vegan cheese such as plant-based parmesan.

Cheese can also be omitted altogether. Something like cashew cream or vegan pesto can work nicely as well.

As for the rest of the toppings - vegetables are a perfect choice. Vegan pizza can have basil, roasted tomatoes, roasted peppers, pickled jalapeños, spinach, black olives, etc.

And there you have it - a flavorsome vegan pie that is sure to satisfy your appetite.

What Is the History of Vegan Pizza?

To answer this question, we'll take a look at the history of pizza and vegan food, and tie the two together.

As we all know pizza comes from Italy. Initially, it was flatbreads topped with garlic, salt, cheese, and more. Tomatoes must have come no earlier than the 16th century.

These led to modern-like pizza being made in Naples, around the turn of the 19th century. However, it was in 1889 when Raffaele Esposito made the Margherita i.e. the first modern pizza.

He baked it in honor of Queen Margherita, who was visiting Naples at the time. The ingredients - tomato, basil, and mozzarella - resembled the colors of the Italian flag.

Later on, when many Italians immigrated to the United States, at the turn of the 20th century, pizza also made its way there.

The first pizzeria called Lombardi's, was opened in New York in 1905. With time, pizza became a real phenomenon and one of the most popular foods in the US and worldwide.

Naturally, different pizzaiolos would experiment with the dough and toppings and many famous combinations came out of that. From Grandma and Sicilian pies to Detroit and St. Louis pizza, the options are truly a lot.

As for vegan food, it has its basis in vegetarianism which originated a long time ago. Still, it was in the 19th century that the movement gained significance in Britain and the States.

In 1847, the Vegetarian Society was established. About a hundred years later, in 1944, Donald Watson published a newsletter named "The Vegan News."

Donald and his wife-to-be were also the ones who invented the term - vegan.

Over the years, more people have begun to take notice of vegan food. And it has especially become popular in recent times, namely since the 2010s.

The Economist even declared 2019 as the year of the vegan.

Now, while we can't pinpoint when and who exactly invented vegan pizza, it's clear how its growing popularity has come to be.

As more people have leaned into vegan food, it's no wonder that pizza had to offer a vegan alternative.

How Many Calories in a Vegan Slice of Pizza?

A single slice of vegan pie should contain about 130 calories. This includes 4.5 grams of total fat, 320mg of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein.

Where Can I Find Vegan Pizza Near Me?

With the increase in popularity of vegan dishes, more and more pizzerias are now offering vegan pies. Of course, we at Slice are here to help you easily find some near you.

Thus, for those of you in New York, we suggest heading to Pizza Park on 1st Ave. They're open every day of the week and offer takeout and delivery, too.

And if you're in Los Angeles, then a great choice would be Cheech's Pizza on Hillhurst Ave. Their Happy Vegan pizza is a must-try. Feel free to give them a visit or opt for pickup or delivery.