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This Vegan Pesto Pizza Rolls recipe is perfect for entertaining. Homemade pizza dough topped with dairy-free pesto and herbed mushrooms, all rolled up, sliced and baked. Add vegan cheese if needed. Serve with marinara or creamy dips of choice. Vegan & Soy-free with a Nut-free option. Jump to Recipe

overhead shot of vegan Pesto Pizza rolls in a ceramic baking dish

Vegan Pesto Pizza Rolls – the perfect recipe for entertaining!

These Vegan Pesto Pizza Rolls are a great appetizer or fun alternative to regular pizza if you want to change things up and surprise your guests with something special yet familiar.

You can eat them as-is or dip them into some homemade marinara or pizza sauce. Either way, they’re like a mini-trip to Italy! Super flavorful, packed with Mediterranean flavor and soft and pillowy on the inside.

overhead shot of a vegan Pesto Pizza roll topped with vegan shredded mozzarella cheese

INGREDIENTS USED IN THESE VEGAN PIZZA ROLLS RECIPE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

  • The dough for the pizza rolls uses active dry yeast, water, flour and semolina as the main ingredients.
  • As a short-cut, you can use any plain pre-made pizza dough here too.
  • The filling is a flavorful combination of homemade vegan pesto and sauteed mushrooms, flavored with onion, garlic, and oregano.  I like to add some crushed red pepper,  for a bit of heat. The thick mixture tastes amazing and is not very chunky, making it easy to roll the dough up and slice it like cinnamon rolls. You can also some vegan cheese for that pizza feel. Optional but 100 % recommended.
  • As a recipe variation, you could add some cooked lentils, coarsely chopped walnuts, or any chopped vegan meats or sausages. Amp up the umami by adding some chopped olives to the filling along with the mushrooms.
  • Oil-free version: Saute the mushrooms in some vegetable broth when making the filling. Use warmed creamy nondairy milk instead of oil in the dough.
  • Gluten-free version: Use a gluten-free pie crust and make pizza pockets instead. Or use my gluten-free naan bread batter, fill it in a lined muffin pan (about half the liner). Swirl the filling lightly into the batter to create rolls like swirls. Top generously with shredded vegan cheese and bake for 15 to 18 mins.

How to make this Vegan Pizza Rolls Recipe – Step by Step:

Start with the pizza dough:

1. Warm the water until warm to touch. Add yeast and 1 tbsp flour and mix and let the yeast activate for 5 mins.

water and yeast being stirred together to make pre-dough

2. Stir the salt into the semolina flour. Add the semolina flour and 1.5 cups flour to the yeast mixture. Add 2 tsp olive oil. and mix to just bring together the dough. Add flour 1 tbsp at a time as required.

pizza dough proofing in a bowl

3. Cover the bowl and let it sit to rise for 30 mins.

proofed pizza dough doubled in size sitting in a white bowl ready to be punched down

Make the fillings while the dough is resting:

4. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add oil, onion, and mushrooms and mix. Cover and cook for 5 mins. Add salt, oregano, garlic, and water and mix well. Cover and continue to cook for 5 to 8 mins or until dry and tender.

mushrooms sauteeing in a black pan

5. Make the vegan pesto if you haven’t made it already using this recipe. 

vegan pesto in a small white bowl

6. Uncover the dough. Add oil and a tbsp of flour and punch the dough down and make a flat disc. Use flour to roll it out to 15 by 10 inches.

Vegan Pizza rolls dough being rolled out into a rectangle

7. Spread the pesto all over the rolled out dough.

vegan pesto being spread onto rolled out pizza rolls dough

8. Sprinkle the dough with the mushroom mixture. Top with some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat and sprinkle with vegan shredded mozzarella, if you like your rolls cheesy.

sauteed mushrooms being sprinkled onto rolled out pizza dough spread with pesto

shredded vegan mozzarella being sprinkled onto pizza dough to make pesto pizza rolls

9. Roll the dough up into a roll, like when making cinnamon rolls, and seal the ends. Slice the dough roll into pizza rolls using a sharp kitchen knife and place them in a greased baking dish.

Pesto Pizza rolls on a cutting board

10. Sprinkle with some more cheese if needed. Bake the rolls at 400 F for 22 to 24 mins.  Tip: Check the center of one of the middle rolls, and if the middle does not still feel soft and doughy, then remove the pan from the oven.

11. Cool the rolls for 5 mins, then sprinkle with some red pepper flakes and fresh basil if needed. Serve warm with olive oil or pizza sauce

Pesto Pizza rolls unbaked in a white ceramic baking dish

What goes well with Pesto Pizza Rolls?

But what can you serve alongside that delicious pizza that plays the perfect supporting role? What about some roasted greens – like green beans, caramelized brussels sprouts, asparagus or a light and a bright side salad?

a fluffy and soft homemade Vegan Pesto Pizza roll being torn into two pieces

Can I make these Vegan Pizza Rolls ahead of time?

Yes, these vegan pesto pizza rolls can be made ahead. Once sliced and placed in a baking dish, you can keep the rolls refrigerated overnight. Cover tightly and store. Remove from the fridge and let sit on the counter for an hour to warm and rise. Then bake and serve.

To store them, place in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze them in the back of your freezer for up to a month.

 

More vegan bread and rolls recipe from the blog:

Vegan Pesto Pizza Rolls

4.78 from 9 votes
By: Vegan Richa
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 24 minutes
Proofing: 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour 4 minutes
Servings: 9
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian
This Vegan Pesto Pizza Rolls recipe is perfect for entertaining. Homemade pizza dough topped with dairy-free pesto and herbed mushrooms, all rolled up, sliced and baked. Add vegan cheese if needed. Serve with marinara or creamy dips of choice. Vegan & Soy-free with a Nut-free option.
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Ingredients 
 

  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 2 tsp active dry or instant yeast
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp semolina flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil, divided

Mushroom Mixture:

  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1/2 cup sliced onion
  • 7 oz sliced mushroom
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Other Toppings

Optional

Instructions 

  • For the rolls:
  • Warm the water until warm to touch. Add yeast and 1 tbsp flour and mix and let the yeast activate for 5 mins.
  • Stir the salt into the semolina flour. Add the semolina flour and 1.5 cups flour to the yeast mixture. Add 2 tsp olive oil. and mix to just bring together the dough. Add flour 1 tbsp at a time as required.
  • Cover and let the dough sit to rise for 30 mins.

Make the fillings:

  • Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add oil, onion and mushrooms and mix. Cover and cook for 5 mins. Add salt, oregano, garlic and water and mix well. Cover and continue to cook for 5 to 8 mins or until dry and tender.
  • Make the pesto using this recipe if you haven't prepared it already.

Assemble:

  • Uncover the risen dough. Add oil and a tbsp of flour and punch the dough down and shape it into a flat disc. Use flour to roll it out to 15 by 10 inches thick.
  •  Spread the vegan pesto all over the rolled out dough.
  • Sprinkle the dough with the sauteed mushroom mixture. Add some red pepper flakes and vegan shredded mozzarella, if you want.
  • Roll it all up and seal the ends. Slice the dough roll into pizza rolls and place them in a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with some more cheese if needed. Bake the rolls at 400 F for 22 to 24 mins. Check the center of one of the middle rolls, and if it’s not doughy, then remove the pan from the oven.
  • Cool the rolls for 5 mins, then sprinkle with some red pepper flakes and some fresh basil if you like. Serve warm with olive oil or pizza sauce

Notes

  • As a short-cut, you can use any plain pre-made pizza dough here too.
  • For a recipe variation, you could add some cooked lentils, coarsely chopped walnuts, or any chopped vegan meats or sausages. Amp up the umami by adding some chopped olives to the filling along with the mushrooms.
  • Oil-free version: Saute the mushrooms in some vegetable broth when making the filling. Use warmed creamy nondairy milk instead of oil in the dough.
  • Gluten-free version: Use a gluten-free pie crust and make pizza pockets instead. Or use my gluten-free naan bread batter, fill it in a lined muffin pan (about half the liner). Swirl the filling lightly into the batter to create rolls like swirls. Top generously with shredded vegan cheese and bake for 15 to 18 mins.

Nutrition

Calories: 177.37kcal, Carbohydrates: 27.61g, Protein: 5.59g, Fat: 5.07g, Saturated Fat: 0.77g, Cholesterol: 0.53mg, Sodium: 260.75mg, Potassium: 144.4mg, Fiber: 2.12g, Sugar: 1.11g, Vitamin A: 134.4IU, Vitamin C: 1.12mg, Calcium: 18.72mg, Iron: 1.72mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!

 

 

About Richa

Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options.

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4.78 from 9 votes

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29 Comments

  1. JJ says:

    5 stars
    what a versatile recipe! very impressed. I added chopped veggie sausages as suggested and omitted the cheese. Next time I’ll brush the tops with some oil so they get the glossy golden look. Very straightforward weeknight meal, or something easy to take to a party!

    1. Richa says:

      awesome

  2. DrewT says:

    4 stars
    Forgot to rate!

  3. DrewT says:

    I was a little disappointed, but both of my guests (neither vegan) really loved them. I will definitely make them again, but I will jazz up the filling with some vegan parmesan, crumbled sausage (I’m thinking maybe Field Roast Italian), and more shredded mozzarella (though I used a fair amount). I would suggest specifying a size for the pan — I used an old Corningware, probably 9″ x 9″, and it worked okay, but something slightly bigger might be better? Also I baked it a lot longer than specified, finally jacking the oven up to 440 F, ’cause I couldn’t get the rolls to brown. (I overdid it and they were a little tough on top.) But it’s a great concept and I’m going to have fun playing with it. Maybe tomato sauce next time?

    1. Richa says:

      glad that the guests liked them! you can roll the dough out thinner and definitely add more filling. For browning, brush the tops with oil or vegan butter, that will help brown faster.

  4. Gina McKnighty says:

    5 stars
    These are great! They turned out so well!

  5. Shalini says:

    5 stars
    Looks simply yummmmmmm

  6. Tiffany says:

    5 stars
    Just phenomenal!! We all loved them. Thank you.

  7. Ks says:

    What is the purpose of semolina ? Your classic pizza dough does not have semolina in it I believe…

    1. Richa says:

      it makes for a sturdier dough for the rolls so they are not overly soft. you can omit it

      1. Binika says:

        Do you need to sub it? If so, with what? Or can you completely omit semolina flour?

        1. Richa says:

          use more flour instead

  8. Cat says:

    Is it possible to make them wholegrain?

  9. Heather L says:

    5 stars
    This looks like a delicious use for all of our late summer basil. Thanks!

    1. Richa says:

      thanks

  10. Sara says:

    This sounds like an amazing recipe. Cant wait to make itfor the oscar party thiSSunday.

    1. Richa says:

      good idea!