This Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza is a perfect blend of tostada + pizza in a yummy CPK copycat recipe. Vegan or dairy cheese melted on a pizza crust topped with black beans, lettuce, avocado, tomato, and THE BEST homemade cilantro lime dressing! YUMMMMMMM!
If you know me, you know I LOVE a good copycat recipe. Some of my most popular recipes on this blog are my oh so perfect restaurant copycat recipes. I am always on a mission to recreate my restaurant favorites right in my very own kitchen. Check out these copycats: Chipotle Copycat Recipes, Taco Bell Nacho Fries Copycat, Chuy’s Salsa Copycat Recipe, Copycat McDonald’s Spicy Paneer Wrap, Spinach Florentine Bagel Copycat Einstein Bros, Dill Pickle Hummus (Copycat Trader Joe’s). This CPK tostada pizza is a favorite of ours + soon to be yours too!
Tara’s Tips for Perfect
Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza
Crust:
- As photographed, I used Angelic Bakehouse Flattza Pizza Crust. This sprouted grain crust is just thin enough to crisp up giving it the perfect part tostada part pizza feel. If you like, you can use a homemade dough but roll it out thin. Both of these recipes would work: Eggless Cauliflower Pizza Crust or Whole Wheat Pizza Crust.
Cheese:
- My favorite dairy-free cheeses are Miyoko’s or Violife for mozzarella, and Daiya or Violife for cheddar. This recipe calls for a mixture of both. These are the ones that I feel melt the best. If you are not vegan, feel free to use dairy cheese here.
Cilantro Lime Dressing:
- 1 package of silken tofu + 2 tablespoons lime juice + 1/2 tsp salt + 1/4 cup fresh cilantro. Blend in a blender until smooth. This dressing is PERFECT on here. If you aren’t into using silken tofu in dressings, simply substitute 1 1/2 cups of plain Greek yogurt in place of the tofu. Alternatively, you could use your favorite store-bought ranch in a pinch.
Black Beans:
- I recommend using one can for this. Do not drain or rinse the beans. While cooking, mash the beans to change the texture to a thick paste (refried bean consistency). This makes the beans spreadable over the melted cheese.
Toppings:
- To keep this as authentic of a copycat recipe as it gets, I chose shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes + avocado, homemade tortilla strips. Additionally, you could add diced red onion, chopped cilantro, drizzled hot sauce, vegan or dairy sour cream.
Copycat California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza
A Mexican tostada in a pizza! Yes, please! Such a fun way to jazz up pizza night. I veganized this Copycat CPK Tostada Pizza and it is amazing!
Ingredients
- pizza crust (I used one Angelic Bakehouse Flatzza Whole Sprouted Grain Crust) or sub your favorite homemade dough rolled out thin
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup dairy or vegan mozzarella cheese (I use Violife or Miyoko's shreds) and 1 cup dairy or vegan cheddar cheese (I use Violife or Daiya shreds)
- diced avocado (use one whole small-medium sized avocado)
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 2 corn tortillas
- avocado oil spray
- 1/2 cup (more to taste) cilantro lime dressing (see body of post for recipe) or use your favorite store bought ranch
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Step 2 Spread cheese evenly onto pizza dough and bake in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Step 3 While cheese melts, place black beans in a small saucepan. Do not drain or rinse. Simmer over medium-low heat. During cooking smash beans with a spoon to achieve a mashed/refried bean consistency. After 5 minutes, turn heat off. Cook for an additional 3 minutes or until thick consistency is achieved.
- Step 4 Remove pizza dough from oven, spread black beans evenly over the melted cheese. Return to oven for 5 minutes.
- Step 5 While pizza bakes, slice corn tortillas into thin strips (I use a pizza cutter). Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, place tortilla strips in pan and spray with avocado oil. Sauté strips until crispy golden brown. Once browned, remove from heat, transfer strips to a paper towel lined plate.
- Step 6 Remove pizza from oven, sprinkle with lettuce followed by tomatoes, avocado, then tortilla strips. Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing.
- Step 7 Cut and serve with additional dressing to taste. Enjoy!
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I’ve tried several copycat tostada pizza recipes. This is definitely the best! I believe not draining the beans is the key.
YES! I agree! Thank you for the feedback!
– Tara