If you follow me on snapchat (@minimalistbaker), you know I’ve been trying to make vegan pepperoni for a while now. It’s been one of those recipes I dreamed up and then struggled to perfect. But, after many failed attempts, I’m happy to report I cracked the code!
Say goodbye to the days of vegetables-only pizza (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Vegan pepperoni to the rescue!
Origins of Pepperoni
It’s thought that the technique of curing meat with salt and spices to preserve it originates as far back as the Roman Empire. Spicy sausages were then curated in Italy and pepperoni is thought to have originated in the US as an adaptation from the Italian versions. Pepperoni began appearing in delis and pizza shops in New York City around 1919 and is now many people’s favorite pizza topping!
The following is our plant-based version made with similar spices and flavor, but without the meat!
Vegan Pepperoni
For the base, I experimented with tofu, tempeh, and chickpeas, trying each individually and mixed to find the right texture.
While tempeh seemed to yield the right texture initially, when baked it gets pretty dry and crumbly. The same goes for chickpeas. Tofu, however, lends itself perfectly to the texture of pepperoni because it bakes up beautifully and holds it shape! Plus, it’s neutral in flavor and does an excellent job at absorbing all of those pepperoni spices.
In total, this recipe requires just 10 ingredients and comes together in less than 1 hour! Some versions I tested required more than 1 full day to prepare, but I knew that wasn’t realistic. I think it’s pretty awesome that you can make this pepperoni from scratch for dinner tonight! (Pats self on back).
What spices will you need? Excellent question!
A blend of sea salt, black pepper, red pepper flake, paprika, garlic powder, ground anise, fennel (this one’s important!), ground mustard, and coconut sugar for a little sweetness. I didn’t have all of these spices on hand, but now that I have them, I can’t wait to experiment with other uses.
In addition to being relatively easy to make, these pepperoni are considerably healthier than their animal-based counterpart. They’re very low in fat – less than 1 gram fat per pepperoni – and relatively high in protein – about 1 gram protein per pepperoni! If you ate all the pepperonis (like I did), that would be 30 g protein. That’s a lot of plant-based fuel!
I hope you all try and love this recipe! It’s:
Spicy
Hearty
Smoky
Salty
Perfectly tender + crisp
& Seriously delicious
This is the perfect topper for vegan and gluten-free pizzas, as well as deep dish, portobello, and butternut! I could also see these tucking beautifully inside of calzones! The options are endless. I just love that the texture is so close to the real thing, and they’re addictively salty and spicy.
If you give this recipe a try, let us know what you think! We love your comments, ratings, and especially your photos tagged #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see how yours turn out. Cheers, friends!
Vegan Pepperoni
Ingredients
- 10 ounces extra-firm tofu (organic when possible)
- 1 – 1 1/2 tsp each sea salt and ground black pepper
- 2-3 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (depending on preferred heat level)
- 2 tsp ground mustard seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds (lightly crushed)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp coconut sugar
- 1/4 tsp ground anise
- 1 tsp A1 sauce or liquid smoke (optional)
- Cooking spray or olive oil for baking
Instructions
- Wrap tofu in a clean towel and set something heavy on top – like a cast-iron skillet – to press out liquid for 10-15 minutes. Also preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C).
- Once pressed, cube tofu and add to a food processor along with sea salt, black pepper, red pepper flake, ground mustard, fennel seeds, smoked paprika, garlic powder, coconut sugar, ground anise, and A1 sauce/liquid smoke (optional). Mix/pulse to combine, scraping down sides as needed.
- Sample and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt for saltiness, red pepper flake for heat, paprika for smokiness, or coconut sugar for sweetness.
- Transfer the mixture to a parchment-lined baking sheet (or more baking sheets, as needed, if increasing batch size). Lay a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper on top and use your hands to spread into a uniformly thin layer about 1/4th – 1/8th inch thick (see photo). The more even the layer is, the more evenly it will bake. Spritz with a little nonstick spray or gently brush with a bit of oil to help it crisp up.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly dried out. Then use a small or medium circular cookie cutter to cut out “pepperonis” (see photo). Feel free to keep the scrap pieces as well! They’re just not as pretty.
- At this point, the pepperonis are ready to add to a pizza, where they should bake at least another 10-15 minutes. Time accordingly based on how long your crust takes to bake. You’ll know they’re ready when they’re deep red in color and slightly crisp to the touch.
- If you don’t want to add them to a pizza right away, simply let them cool, cover, and refrigerate (up to 4 days) or freeze (up to 1 month) for later use. If frozen, let thaw slightly before adding to the pizza to bake.
Notes
* Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Eric says
I use this as a marinade for my homemade tempeh and it’s perfect. I do everything as is but omit the sea salt and added all the seasonings to 1/4 c avocado oil and 1/4 c tamari. Rough blend with an immersion blender and pour over freshly steamed tempeh. High recommendations!
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Eric!
Kim says
I was blown away by the flavor of this. I will definitely be making it again. I think I need to roll it out thinner next time. Mine didn’t turn out as red as the pictures, so I’m wondering if I didn’t process it enough. Regardless, it was delicious for both pizza and sandwiches.
Yay! We’re so glad you loved the flavor, Kim. Thank you for sharing! Processing longer and/or adding more paprika should help.
SV says
Would this work well served cold in a pasta salad? If so, do I need to cook any extra?
Ooo, love that idea! You could just do the initial cook time and it should be a nice texture, but it would probably fine to cook longer if you wish!
Paige says
Hi! Can’t wait to make this but am wondering if I can replace the coconut sugar with brown sugar? Will it change the flavor profile drastically? Let me know what you think, thanks!
Hi Paige, that should work well! Enjoy!
Katie says
Just grabbed these out of the oven and they’re amazing. My husband couldn’t believe how much they smell like pepperoni. I did cut small circles but plan to turn these into deli slices for sandwiches.
Amazing! We’re so glad you’re enjoying them, Katie! Thanks so much for the lovely review. xo
Melissa says
This pepperoni is the best! So much better than the stuff you can buy in the store and super easy to make.
We’re so glad you enjoy this recipe, Melissa. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Laura says
My husband is so picky, and he never likes any of the plant based stuff I make. Even things that are crowd favorites for others. I try all kinds of recipes, and this is the only recipe I’ve tried that he actually LOVES! Thank you so much for a plant based pepperoni recipe that we can both enjoy! I’m over the moon!
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoy this one, Laura! Thank you for sharing! xo
Marty says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I made it today and I love it! One of the things I have missed so much since going plant based is pepperoni. I used to eat it straight out of the package. This is an amazing substitute. I’m so happy I found this site!
Thanks so much for the lovely review. We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Marty!
Chris says
Very easy to make and is so flavourful! The texture is a bit soft and not chewy like real pepperoni. I prefer it on pizza and in sandwiches rather than on its own. I don’t bother to make little circles – I just cut them into squares. They freeze very well and I love having some always ready to go.
Thank you for sharing, Chris!
Tim says
Just tried my gnarly pepperoni shards on a pizza and it was soooo good! Gives all the great pepperoni flavor without having to eat any processed meats. Can’t wait to try again.
Amazing! So glad you enjoy it, Tim!
Tim says
Hey there. I made the recipe as specified and as some people mentioned the house smelled like pepperoni. My wife came home from work and said Why did it smell like pizza? The only issue I encountered is that I used a Silpat instead of baking paper and it stuck to horribly. There was no chance of nice discs (such I wasn’t to concerned about anyway). I might try adding something like coconut oil to give it some of the fat that pepperoni has and hopefully keep it from sticking so badly. I think I might also try the roll and freeze technique as well. Thanks for the recipe! Looking forward to nailing it next time.
Hi Tim, sorry it stuck to the pan! It should work better with oil and/or parchment. Glad you still enjoyed it!
Darcey says
Made this today and I totally forgot to add the coconut sugar, but it was still amazing!! Great pepperoni smell and flavor. Even my 9 year old daughter who loves pepperoni said it smelled and tasted just like pepperoni. This will be enough for at least three 12” homemade pizzas, probably more depending on how much I use each time. Got the rest in the freezer and I’ll be making this over and over! Thanks!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Darcey. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Sheila says
I am a meat lover, but high cholesterol has me investigating other options. I am an experienced cook and baker, but have never used tofu. After you wrap it in a towel, do you just set it on a plate? Doesn’t it end up sitting in a puddle of liquid? (Which would defeat the purpose if you’re trying to press liquid out of it.)
Also, what consistency is the tofu when you are spreading it on the parchment? Is it like a paste?
Could you post a video of this recipe? That would really help me better understand what it’s like to work with tofu. Thank you in advance!
Hi Sheila, thank you for the suggestion! When you set something heavy on top of the wrapped tofu, the moisture mostly transfers to the towel, but some may end up pooling on the plate. The consistency should not be a paste at all (see this video and this video for reference). If yours is ending up more like a paste, we wonder if you’re using silken tofu? Hope that helps!
Sheila says
Thank you for the quick reply! I haven’t bought any tofu to try this yet. It sounds like wrapping it in cheesecloth would be a good way to absorb moisture??
I knew tofu could be cubed, seasoned/flavored, and fried, but I’m still wondering what kind of texture I should expect after running it through the food processor. Will it be something like cream cheese? Or more like pie dough?
Sorry I sometimes overthink things. :-). I always like to really have all my ducks in a row before I try something new.
Depending on the firmness of your tofu it will break down into different textures, but in our experience most of them become quite smooth. Cream cheese is a good texture reference!
Sheila says
Ok! That is so helpful! If I decide to give this a try, I will be able to tell if I am on the right track!
Kelsey says
Did anyone else find theirs to be a dull grey colour and an off putting grainy texture? There isn’t enough liquid or oil in the recipe to fully hold the tofu together. It presses together on the bake tray but despite using a high speed food processor the texture is still sandy. This recipe did not turn out for me.
Sorry to hear this didn’t work for you, Kelsey. Did you happen to make any modifications to the recipe? What type of tofu did you use, firm, extra-firm, etc?
Rose_Anne says
This was absolutely fabulous, and I thank you very much for the recipe! The level of spice was ideal and the process reasonably simple. Your steps were easy to follow, and I’m delighted with the result.
One small note, if you don’t mind? I used red lentil tofu. It was perfect.
Thanks again,
Rose_Anne
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Rose Anne!
Jean says
Have you ever used different spices to create other “meats”?
Hi Jean, we have a few other “meat” recipes. Here is one for sausage links!
Deanna says
Kids loved it. I did decrease the red pepper because my kids don’t like spice.
Tell tale sign of a good imitation: while they were in the oven, my kids asked me if I was making pepperoni. I asked why they asked, and they said that the whole house just smelled like pepperoni.
We love this! Thanks so much for the great review, Deanna!
Tony R says
Agreed. Today will be my 5th time making it. It’s a hit with friends and family.
We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Tony. Thank you for sharing!
Mary says
Flavor was spot on for these. I just brought them to a party full of meat eaters and while everyone agreed the texture was wrong, they all really liked the taste. I’ll be making these regularly! And the texture was probably on me, I left some parts too thick, so I need to roll out thinner so they get crispier. The crispy edge pieces were delicious!
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the great review, Mary!
Kymberly says
Can you use chickpea tofu? It’s besan flour and water. Wasn’t sure if it would be less crumbly than using mashed chickpeas?
Hi Kymberly, we haven’t experimented with chickpea tofu so we’re not sure! Let us know if you try it!
Tracy says
I am looking to make a pepperoni I can also eat cold, such as in a sandwich. Should I cook this the additional time you mention if it where on the pizza?
You could just do the initial cook time and it should be a nice texture, but either way would work!
Sally says
This this taste exactly like pepperoni except for the greasy taste. Flavor is spot on. Thank You. Will be making again. I ended up cutting in squares instead of a circular cutter.
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed, Sally. Thanks for the great review!
Jonathan says
I like this recipe but the cookie-cutter approach didn’t let me use turn all the ingredients into pepperonis and I was limited by the size of my cookie cutters. So, I adapted a technique from another book:
After making the tofu mixture, I placed it into a sheet of plastic wrap and shaped into a firm-ish log about my desired diameter. Then, I folded the wrap around the log, and twisted the ends tightly to form a tight, compact roll. The, I popped the roll in the freeze for about 15 mins to left it firm up, removed it, peeled off the wrap, and sliced into pepperonis which I then baked according to the main recipe.
They turned out perfectly – no more cookie cutters and no more wasted or irregular bits!
Thank you for sharing, Jonathan!
Kevin says
What a great idea.
Jeni says
I made this for pizza and it was delicious and easy! I’m so happy as I missed pepperoni on pizza and this is great! Thank you!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jeni! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Steve says
This has been a life saver! I’m lazy tho and just whizz up all the ingredients in a spice grinder then keep them in a jar.
When I want pepperoni I slice up some pre-booked vegan sausage and fry up what I need.
Genuinely tastier than most shop bought and I love that you can tailor the flavour just how you like. I honestly think if I went back to meat eating I’d still make this recipe.
Great for breakfast too with beans in toast.
Omg I’m so hungry after writing this. :-0
Love those ideas! Thanks for sharing, Steve!
Haley says
I have made this before a long time ago, but I can’t have any sugars including liquid sweeteners anymore. Is it possible to just leave it out? Any substitute that might work? Maybe a little bit of a red bell pepper into the food processor or would that make it too wet? Can this still crisp up without the added oil as well? Thanks!
Hi Haley, we think red bell pepper would make it too wet, but perhaps dried bell pepper (we’ve seen it at some stores)? Otherwise, leaving it out might be okay, just not quite as balanced in flavor. We don’t think it will crisp up as well without the oil, but let us know if you try it!
Coby says
Pizza is my favorite food ever, and since going vegan I have missed having pepperoni on my pizza. No more! The flavors of this plant based pepperoni are so incredibly close to the real thing; my brain knows it’s not meat, but my taste buds don’t! I am thrilled that I can make my own plant-based pepperoni with this recipe!
Yay! So glad you enjoy this recipe, Coby. Thanks so much for the wonderful review!
Sheryl says
I made this as written but without the anise because I didn’t have any. It is tasty, but there is a bitter undertone. Can anyone help me out on where the bitterness is coming from? I will try it again and intend to add garlic and maybe a combination of sweet and smoky paprika. After all the rave reviews I expected to love it and it was a bit disappointing. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Sheryl says
I meant to state that I would add more garlic.
Sasha says
Any substance for tofu? Trying to avoid soy.
Hi Sasha, we think the closest alternative would be chickpeas!
Hi Sheryl, we’re sorry to hear it turned out bitter! Is it possible one of your ingredients isn’t fresh? If they’re all fresh, our best guess would be the mustard powder. Hope that helps!
Christina says
What can be used in place of tofu? I have many food based allergies, soy being one of them.
Hi Christina, hmm, we think the closest alternative would be chickpeas!
Andrea says
This is by far the best vegan “meat “substitute that I’ve ever made. My husband still seems to want those super processed vegan deli meats and sausages, and the doctor read him the riot act. I saw this recipe the other day and decided to give it a try. Unbelievably good, unbelievably easy. Just make sure when you roll it out it’s on the thinner side and as even as you can get it, but it is delicious!
Yay! So glad you enjoy it. Thanks so much for the lovely review, Andrea!