This tofu tikka masala pizza is jam-packed with flavors you didn’t know you needed on pizza. A tikka masala sauce base, yogurt-marinated tofu, vegan mozzarella, onions, bell peppers, cilantro, and even some green chutney when I’m feeling particularly extra. It’s how you take pizza night to the next level!
Pizza on a Friday night? Sounds like the move. Tofu tikka masala pizza on a Friday night? Sounds like the move x 10000. Marinara? Don’t know her because there’s a new gal in town and it’s that tikka masala sauce. I’ve used it for grilled cheese and now it’s on pizza with some crisp tofu that was marinated in all the lovely warm Indian spices. This tofu tikka masala pizza is just my plant-based take on paneer tikka pizza!
The Rundown
Tikka Masala Sauce
A sauce you can repurpose for just about anything? We love that! This is made just how you would make any curry: a base of onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and spices. Blend that up with a little coconut milk and you have a creamy pizza or pasta sauce ready to go!
Note: I use some kasoori methi here and there really is no substitute for that, but I’m sure you can make it work without it. Just give the sauce a quick taste by the end and see if there’s anything else it needs! Even if I’m following a recipe, I will always give something a taste before calling it a day because your intuition is better than any recipe. Always remember that.
Tofu Tikka Marinade
The marinade for the tofu requires a lot of the same spices you used for the tikka masala sauce! This time, the spices are combined with yogurt to marinate the tofu for a few hours. I’d say anywhere from 2-4 hours is ideal, but the longer the better! I made one pizza the next day with leftover marinated tofu and it was definitely better.
Before you add the tofu to the pizza, make sure to pan fry it (about 3-4 minutes per side) or else it won’t fully cook! This is what helps get the tofu nice and browned before it enters the oven. And when it comes out, it’s even better.
Pizza Dough
You can use any pizza dough you want here, but I used a recipe from my foodie friend Cambrea of Cambrea Bakes! She’s basically a professional baker and breaks down the simple process of making your own pizza dough on her blog right here.
Topping Time
Add some vegan mozzarella (or cheese of your choice), onions, and bell peppers. Bake it for 12-15 minutes at 425 F. Top with some cilantro and green chutney. Happy pizza day/night!
Tofu Tikka Masala Pizza
Ingredients
Marinated Tofu Tikka
- ⅓ cup plant-based yogurt
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp turmeric
Tikka Masala Sauce
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 inch of ginger, minced
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes ~ 1 cup, diced
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp red chili powder (reduce to ½ tsp for less spice)
- 1 tsp kasoori methi optional
- ½ cup coconut milk sub ¼ cup yogurt and ¼ cup water
Tofu Tikka Masala Pizza
- 2 pizza crusts
- marinated tofu
- tikka masala sauce
- red bell pepper
- green bell pepper
- red onion, thinly sliced
- cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Marinate tofu: Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes to squeeze out excess moisture. Add all ingredients for the tofu marinade to a mixing bowl and mix. Cut tofu into ~ 1-inch rectangles and add to the bowl. Put the bowl in the fridge 2-4 hours. The longer the better! When you are ready to put together the pizza, pan fry the tofu in 1 tbsp of avocado oil for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the tofu has browned on each side.
- Make the tikka masala sauce: Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and let it soften for a minute. Add ginger and garlic; stir with the onion for a couple of minutes. Add all spices (except the kasoori methi) to a small bowl. Add all spices at once and fry for 1-2 minutes. Then add tomatoes and cook until the tomato juices evaporate and everything sits nicely in the center of the pan. Take the pan off of the heat and blend with coconut milk and kasoori methi.
- Preheat oven to 425 F and prepare your toppings for the pizza. Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface and place it on a baking sheet. Add tikka masala sauce, vegan mozzarella (or cheese of choice), tofu, bell pepper, and onions. Bake the pizza for 12-15 minutes. Top with cilantro and green chutney!
If you like this super cool Indian fusion recipe, you’ll probably love…
Vegan Tikka Masala Grilled Cheese
Masala Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This was such a great recipe! The tofu was seasoned so wonderfully that I forgot that it wasn’t paneer. Tasted great even without the green chutney at the end. Only thing I felt the recipe was missing was the amount of tofu needed (I used 16 oz but think 8-10 oz would have been sufficient) and salt. I just added salt to taste. Can’t wait to make this again!
So glad you liked it! It’s such a fun pizza 🙂
This was tasty and easy to make! Thanks for a great recipe