Vegetarian Taco Pizza (with TVP!)

 

This vegetarian taco pizza is a super quick and easy idea for dinner! It is a healthy alternative to regular pizza and you can't beat a yummy meat-free recipe. You can easily add any of your favorite taco toppings to customize the flavor, including sour cream, avocados, or salsa.

Vegetarian Taco Pizza

• 1 Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough
• 1c TVP (what is this?? Keep reading!) with taco seasoning
• 1 can fat-free refried beans
• 1/2 can rinsed black beans
• 1c chopped lettuce
• 1/2 c chopped onion
• 2 diced tomatoes
• 1c shredded sharp cheddar

Preheat oven to temperature listed on Pillsbury pizza dough container. Unroll and stretch dough onto baking sheet and bake 10min until starting to become golden.

While dough is baking, prepare your other ingredients.When dough is golden, remove from oven (leave the oven on!) and spread refried beans to the edge. Sprinkle seasoned TVP evenly next, then black beans, then onion, then cheddar on top. Place back in oven for another 5-7min until cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and place the remaining toppings on top! Slice and serve! I opted to keep the cold toppings in bowls so that we could easily reheat any leftovers without having wilty lettuce etc. on top.

Yum!! You could try this with a thin crust dough, or even on a pita or other "pizza" crust of your choice.

Ok so now if you don't know what TVP is, then you must be very intrigued! Well here is what the bag looks like that I use:

TVP = textured vegetable protein. It is defatted dehydrated soy crumbles. It is the same thing they use for fake bacon bits--minus the other chemicals and colors. It has lots of protein, fiber, and vitamins/minerals. I get mine for just under $3 at Sprouts for a 10oz bag that I can make several meals out of. The crumbles at least double in size, so it goes very far! You rehydrate it (1:1 ratio dry TVP to liquid) with boiling water/broth in about 2-5min and season it however you want for the recipe you are using it in.

For this recipe I seasoned it with my own taco seasonings--salt, garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder. I always add either chili powder or paprika to it when I use TVP just to help darken the color for aesthetic purposes. You can use it in almost any recipe that calls for ground beef/turkey!

Some of the meals I have made with it include goulash:

.....and cheesy homemade "hamburger helper".

It is an excellent option for those who are vegetarian, vegan, or just wanting to be health conscious and eat less meat. We rarely eat red meat so this is a great alternative. Plus you gotta love the low price! Go get some and Google "TVP recipes".....you won't be disappointed.