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Vegan Mozzarella Stuffed Pesto Pizza Monkey Bread

Basic table bread will never seem the same after you've tried this over the top monkey bread that's simply packed with flavor!

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon oil, plus more for greasing pan
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 3/4 cups flour
  • 8 ounces mozzarella style cheese (such as Daiya or Miyoko's)
  • 2/3 cup prepared pesto or recipe follows
  • 1 cup your favorite marinara sauce for dipping

Pesto:

  • 1/2 cup pine nuts or walnuts
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves tightly packed
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Bread dough:

  1. Stir water, sugar, salt, and yeast together until yeast is dissolved and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Pour into a large mixing bowl and whisk in oil until combined. Add flour and mix until dough comes together. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead for a 2 to 3 minutes until dough is smooth and resilient. Place in oiled bowl, cover, and place in warm place to rise for about 1 hour until doubled in size.

  2. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and grease a bundt pan (or see note) very well with oil. Press dough down and divide into tablespoon sized balls. Stuff each ball with 1 square of "mozzarella" cheese and roll dough around it.

  3. Dip each ball into pesto and place in prepared pan. Continue dipping and stacking balls until all are in pan then bake for 40 to 55 minutes until top is a deep golden brown.

  4. Serve hot with warm marinara.

Pesto:

  1. Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and pulse until nearly smooth. Store in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 4 months.

Recipe Notes

If (like me) you don't have a bundt pan you can use a 10-inch springform pan and an inverted 6-ounce ramekin in the center. This is great because it gives you a pre-warmed bowl for the dip. Just be sure to grease the outside of the ramekin as well as the pan, very well.