Vegan Pepperoni Topping for Pizza

From The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions, this has the flavor of pepperoni without the meat! Use to top a pizza, stuff a calzone, or wherever you use pepperoni. I may try making this with tofu too, crumbling it and adding spices, oil and liquid smoke(leaving out water).

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Yields: 1 1/2 cuups, about

Ingredients

• 1  cup  dry  textured vegetable protein (TVP granules)
• 1  teaspoon- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper (depending on how much heat you want)
• 1  tablespoon paprika
• 1  tablespoon garlic powder
• 1  teaspoon anise seed
• 1  teaspoon sea salt
• 1  teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 1  teaspoon dried basil
• 1  teaspoon cayenne pepper (or dried chipotle powder-more or less to heat preferred)
• 1  cup water
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 2  tablespoons liquid smoke

Directions

1. Mix spices together with TVP.
2. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, add in the 2 tbls. oil and liquid smoke, stir into TVP and spice mixture, cover and let sit for 10 minutes.
3. (Or if you prefer to use a microwave:
4. In a microwave safe bowl, mix together TVP with all of the herbs and spices.
5. Stir in water, oil and liquid smoke.
6. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave on high for about 6 minutes.
7. Carefully remove from microwave, and allow to cool enough to handle.).
8. Fluff with a fork and use to top your pizza, or stuff a calzone, or wherever you want pepperoni flavor.