Vegan pesto pizza with spinach and artichoke (home recipe)

Fancy making a different kind of vegan pizza at home? At Desidero Pizzeria Marbella, we love sharing Italian recipes beyond our restaurant menu. This homemade pizza combines vegan pesto, spinach and artichoke on a light, crisp pizza base.

Please note: this is a home recipe and is not currently part of the Desidero menu. We are sharing it as inspiration for anyone who enjoys making Italian pizza and vegan recipes at home. Our restaurant pizzas are wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas made with a 48-hour dough.

What you'll need (makes 3 pizzas)

• 4 g yeast
• 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the crust before baking
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 250 g plain flour
• 5 g salt
• 160 ml warm water
• 6 tbsp vegan pesto
• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 200 g fresh spinach
• 1 tin of artichoke hearts

How to make it

1. The dough. Combine the warm water with the yeast, olive oil, maple syrup, flour and salt, and work it into a smooth dough. Cover and leave it to rise for about an hour, until doubled in size.
2. Shape into portions. Divide the dough into three equal pieces, roll each into a ball, and let them rest for another 45 minutes.
3. Heat the oven. Meanwhile, preheat your oven as hot as it goes — around 250°C (fan) — so the base crisps up properly.
4. Top and bake. Stretch a dough ball into a round of roughly 25 cm. Spread over 2 tbsp of vegan pesto and 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast, then scatter a third of the spinach and artichoke hearts on top. Drizzle the crust with a little olive oil and bake for 5 to 8 minutes, until golden.
5. Repeat and finish. Do the same with the remaining dough. Finish with a little more nutritional yeast and a pinch of chilli flakes if you like some heat.

The idea behind it

Good pizza is about balance, not a long list of ingredients — the same principle we follow in the restaurant. Here the pesto brings richness, the nutritional yeast a savoury, almost cheesy depth, and the spinach and artichoke keep it fresh. Simple, plant-based and genuinely satisfying.

Prefer to leave the cooking to us?

Our wood-fired kitchen in the centre of Marbella is open every day from 16:00 to 2:00 a.m., with plenty of vegetarian options on the menu. See it all and book at desideropizzeria.es.

Frequently asked questions

• Does the vegan pizza contain cheese? No. It uses vegan pesto and nutritional yeast for a savoury note.
• Can I use regular pesto? Yes, if you don't need it vegan; traditional pesto contains parmesan.
• Does Desidero have vegan pizza on the menu? This is a home recipe; at the restaurant we offer several vegetarian options and a gluten-free base (+€3).
• Can I make it with a gluten-free base? Yes, by swapping the flour for a gluten-free bread mix.

You might also like

For more vegan Italian recipes, try our vegan pumpkin lasagne and gluten-free vegan focaccia.

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