Cheesy Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza is an Indian fusion pizza that’s made with a tandoori marinara sauce and plenty of pizza toppings.
There is no denying it, I love pizza. I always opt for a classic New York-style thin-crust cheese pizza or throw on the veggies.
Since it’s hard to find really good pizza in Southern California, I’ve been making my own since I’ve moved. Although, I haven’t made the dough from scratch for this recipe, these days you can easily find fresh pizza dough at your local grocery store.
What is Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza?
Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza is essentially vegetarian pizza with some tandoori flavor. In this case, I did not saute the veggies in tandoori masala since the flavors can be a bit overwhelming, instead, I added the tandoori flavor to my favorite marinara sauce.
Top your tandoori pizza with a bunch of veggies and lots of cheese.
Once your pizza is ready, top it with a Jalapeno Lime Creamy Sauce. This pizza is so good and hits the spot.
Can I make this recipe vegan, gluten-free?
For a vegan option: you may replace dairy cheese with a vegan version – one that melts well.
For a gluten-free option: use gluten-free pizza dough, however I don’t know much about where you can find this. You can also make your own.
What kind of cheese should I use in this recipe?
I used Trader Joe’s Cheddar & Gruyere cheese for this recipe. Alternatively, you may use mozzarella or any cheese that melts well.
Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Please do! For this recipe, I used Trader Joe’s fresh pizza dough. Although, pizza dough can easily be made at home, I just prefer a shortcut. Feel free to make yours at home.
What other veggies can I use to make Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza?
You can use red bell pepper, broccoli, spinach, and mushrooms – all of these ingredients would work well with the tandoori flavor.
What should I use for baking my pizza?
I used a 12″ castiron skillet. Place the skillet in the oven while the oven is preheating. Once your pizza dough is rolled out, place the pizza dough on a hot castiron skillet brushed with olive oil. The dough will sizzle immediately and this will result in a crispier pizza.
Tips on making Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza:
- Make the Jalapeno Cream Sauce.
- Prep the veggies.
- Heat up the castiron skillet in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Roll out the dough and transfer it to the hot skillet.
- Add your sauce, veggies, and cheese.
- Bake and enjoy! Garnish with sauce.
Ingredients you’ll need for Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza:
Pizza Dough: I just used fresh store-bought pizza dough. Feel free to make your own instead.
Marinara Sauce: I used my favorite marinara – Rao’s Marinara Sauce.
Tandoori Masala: Rani’s Tandoori Masala is delicious and has no food color. You can find this at your local Indian grocery store or Amazon.
Pizza Toppings: Green Bell Pepper, Red Onions, Corn, Olives, Jalapeno.
Cheese: Feel free to use any cheese that melts well, I love the cheddar and gruyere combination which I purchased at Trader Joe’s.
Fresh Cilantro: This is for garnish.
Jalapeno Cream Sauce: For the jalapeno cream sauce you’ll need jalapeno (or serrano for spicier), lime juice, olive oil, sour cream, garlic, cumin powder, salt, and fresh cilantro.
Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza is:
Scrumptious
A Veggie Lover’s Dream
Flavorful
Cheesy
Spicy
Indian Fusion
Vegetarian
How to make Tandoori Vegetarian Pizzarecipe step by step?
Make the Jalapeno Cream Sauce
1. In a mini food processor, combine jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and cumin.
2. Chop/Grind it in the food processor.
3. Add sour cream.
4. Pulse a few times until mixed. The sauce should be slightly runny.
Prep Pizza
1. Chop the red onions, green bell pepper, and olives. Slice the jalapenos. Rinse and drain frozen corn. Grate some cheese – I used a combo of cheddar and gruyere.
2. Make the sauce – mix marinara with tandoori seasoning.
Make the Pizza
1. Place a castiron skillet in the oven at 475 degrees for 10 minutes. This will result in a crispy pizza so don’t skip this step.
2. In the meantime, roll out your dough in a circle. You should be using 8 ounces of pizza dough for each pie of pizza.
3. Once your skillet is hot, carefully remove it from the oven and brush with olive oil.
4. Carefully place the rolled-out dough over the hot skillet. You’ll hear it sizzle.
5. Spread a few spoonfuls of the tandoori pizza sauce over the dough ~ about 1/4 cup.
6. Top with onions, green bell pepper, olives, corn, and jalapeno.
7. Now top with lots of cheese.
8. Place the skillet in a 475-degree oven for 8-12 minutes – oven temperatures vary so check after 8 minutes.
9. Your pizza is ready. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
10. Optional: top with the Jalapeno Cream Sauce.
Pin & Enjoy!
More Pizza Recipes!
Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza (makes 2 pies / 8 slices of pizza)
Equipment
Ingredients
for Jalapeno Cream Sauce
- 1 jalapeno with seeds
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 cup sour cream
for Tandoori Sauce
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce I love Rao's Marinara
- 1 tsp tandoori masala I love Rani's Tandoori Masala
for Tandoori Vegetarian Pizza (for 1 pie ~ 8 ounces dough)
- 1/2 pound pizza dough 8 ounces
- 1/4 cup tandoori marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup red onions chopped
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper chopped
- 1/4 cup corn rinsed & drained
- 6-8 sliced jalapeño
- 1-2 tbsp olives chopped
- 1 cup cheddar & gruyere cheese
for garnish (per pie)
- 2-3 tbsp cilantro
- drizzle of Jalapeno Cream Sauce
Instructions
Make the Jalapeno Cream Sauce
- In a mini food processor, combine jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and cumin.
- Chop/Grind it in the food processor.
- Add sour cream.
- Pulse a few times until mixed. The sauce should be slightly runny.
Prep Pizza
- Chop the red onions, green bell pepper, and olives. Slice the jalapenos. Rinse and drain frozen corn. Grate some cheese - I used a combo of cheddar and gruyere.
- Make the sauce - mix marinara with tandoori seasoning.
Make the Pizza
- Place a castiron skillet in the oven at 475 degrees for 10 minutes. This will result in a crispy pizza so don't skip this step.
- In the meantime, roll out your dough in a circle. You should be using 8 ounces of pizza dough for each pie of pizza.
- Once your skillet is hot, carefully remove it from the oven and brush with olive oil.
- Carefully place the rolled-out dough over the hot skillet. You'll hear it sizzle.
- Spread a few spoonfuls of the tandoori pizza sauce over the dough ~ about 1/4 cup.
- Top with onions, green bell pepper, olives, corn, and jalapeno.
- Now top with lots of cheese.
- Place the skillet in a 475-degree oven for 8-12 minutes - oven temperatures vary so check after 8 minutes.
- Your pizza is ready. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
- Optional: top with the Jalapeno Cream Sauce.
Nutrition
A foodie who is passionate about living a healthy-ish lifestyle, cooking, and traveling. You'll find a mix of everything here and lots of seasonal content. I moved from Jersey City leaving behind my family & friends to beautiful Southern California for love. I'm adjusting to the laid-back SoCal lifestyle and learning a lot about myself along the way. Come join me on a soul searching journey and I'll tell YOU "what's cooking" through my love for food, fashion, and travel.
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