Spelt Pizza with Charred Fennel, Green Cabbage & Tofu Cream

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C fan. To make the base, put the dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Slowly add the water until the mixture starts to stick together.
2. Using your hands, knead the mixture into a dough, adding more water if necessary or flour if it is sticking too much. Place to one side (leaving in the bowl) while you make your sauce and prepare toppings.
3. For the tomato sauce, sauté the onion in a dash of water until it starts to become translucent. Add the garlic and continue to fry for another minute or so. Add the tomatoes, tomato purée/paste, sun-dried tomatoes, water, basil and dried oregano. Season with salt and pepper and allow to simmer on a low heat for about 12 minutes. You want the sauce to become thick and rich, but if it starts to dry up slightly, add a dash more water. Leave to simmer very low for about 10–12 minutes while you do the next steps. Once cooked, turn off the heat and allow the sauce to sit. You can either leave it chunky, or blitz it slightly using a blender/processor to make a smoother tomato sauce.
4. To make the tofu cream, put the silken tofu into a blender along with the apple cider vinegar, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, zest and oregano, plus some salt and pepper. Blend until you have a smooth creamy texture. Set aside or place in the fridge. If you are opting to use truffle oil, you can stir it in after removing from the blender.
5. To char the fennel, take your slices and hold them over a flame for a few seconds, turning them over to brown each side. Use a pair of tongs to do this. The fennel will continue to cook in the oven.
6. Sprinkle some flour on a clean worktop and split your dough in half or quarters depending on how many pizzas you are making. Using a rolling pin, covered with flour to avoid any sticking, roll each piece into a base. Make sure to flip halfway through. You’ll want it to be around ½–1cm (depending on the thickness you like).
7. Transfer the bases to a baking sheet/parchment paper that will fit on an oven tray or wire oven racks.
8. Using a ladle or a large serving spoon, cover your bases with sauce. You don’t want them to go soggy, but don’t hold back.
9. Add the onions, charred fennel, greens, cabbage and half your basil. Depending on how many pizzas you are making, you can mix this up and get creative with arranging. Place your baking sheet on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for around 8 minutes. Again, either on the wire racks or a tray.
10. Add the dried oregano and nutritional yeast and season with salt and pepper. You want the base to be cooked through, making sure the dough is not soggy. Cook for another 4–5 minutes or so, until the vegetables are tender and cooked through. A few minutes before the end, drizzle over the tofu cream, letting it cook ever so slightly – it will start to turn a yellow-brown colour.
11. Once cooked, serve hot with any other garnishes.