Recipe postcard
Italy – The Birthplace of Pizza
Italy is famous for its extraordinary culinary heritage, where simple ingredients, regional traditions and a passion for good food come together. Pizza is one of the country's most celebrated dishes, with Naples in southern Italy widely recognized as the birthplace of modern pizza. Traditional Neapolitan pizza is made with yeast-leavened dough and often topped with tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil. Over time, pizza has inspired countless regional and international variations, proving that a simple combination of dough, tomato sauce and delicious toppings offers endless possibilities for culinary creativity.
What Is Vegan Halloween Skull Pizza?
Vegan Halloween Skull Pizza is my playful Via Veggie Vegan interpretation of an Italian classic, transformed into two deliciously spooky edible skulls. Instead of traditional yeast dough, I use a quick homemade baking powder dough that can be shaped and baked without a long rising time. A fragrant Italian-inspired tomato sauce, melting plant-based pizza topping, vegan salami, black olives, artichoke hearts, sweetcorn and fiery green chillies create both the flavour and the frightening facial features. Finished with homemade chilli-garlic oil, these golden skull-shaped pizzas bring Italian inspiration, Halloween fun and creative vegan Food Art together on one plate.
Cook this recipe →
Recipe postcard
Iraq – A Culinary Heritage Between Two RiversIraq lies in the historic region of Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, where some of the world's earliest urban civilizations developed. Its cuisine reflects centuries of Arab, Persian, Kurdish, Turkish and other regional influences, combining hearty stews, vegetables, legumes, rice and aromatic spices. Garlic, cumin, coriander and tomato-based sauces are familiar elements of Iraqi home cooking. The Arabic word "maraq" refers to a broth or stew, while "qarnabit" means cauliflower. Together, they describe a comforting cauliflower dish rooted in the broader traditions of Iraqi cuisine.
Maraq Qarnabit – Iraqi Cauliflower Stew with a Spooky Vegan TwistTraditional Iraqi cauliflower stews can feature cauliflower simmered in a seasoned tomato-based broth, sometimes alongside meat and other vegetables. My Vegan Iraqi Maraq Qarnabit takes inspiration from these flavors but transforms the familiar stew into a completely plant-based Halloween centerpiece. Instead of cutting the cauliflower into florets, I cook it whole and carefully shape its surface to resemble a human brain. A rich tomato sauce seasoned with garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika and chili forms the base, while beetroot juice adds a dramatic blood-red finish. Fresh coriander and a punchy garlic-lemon drizzle complete the dish. It is a creative Iraqi-inspired interpretation rather than a traditional presentation – where comforting Middle Eastern flavors meet a deliciously wicked Halloween imagination.
Cook this recipe →
