• Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 475°F (245°C).

Make the Taco Tofu Crumble (in Cast Iron)

• Use a box grater to shred the block of extra firm tofu, or just crumble it well with your hands. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in your 12" cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 cup chopped onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until it starts to soften.
• Add the shredded tofu, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, and either the homemade taco seasoning or about 2-3 tablespoons of store-bought taco seasoning (check salt levels). Stir in 1 tablespoon soy sauce/tamari. Cook this mixture for about 10–12 minutes, stirring now and then, until the tofu looks nicely browned.

Prepare Skillet for Crust

• Transfer the cooked tofu crumble to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the hot cast iron skillet with a paper towel, taking care not to burn yourself (use tongs or an oven mitt if needed). Add a small amount of oil (about 1-2 teaspoons) and swirl to coat the bottom and slightly up the sides.

Make the Cashew Cheese (if using)

• You can do this while the tofu is cooking. Drain the water from your soaked cashews. Put the drained cashews in a blender along with ½ cup water, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, ½ teaspoon lactic acid powder (if using), ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes until it's completely smooth and creamy. You want the texture to be pourable, so if it’s too thick, just blend in a little more water until it flows easily. Set aside.

Assemble the Pizza

• Press your pizza crust into the warm, oiled skillet, pushing it slightly up the sides. Spread 3 tablespoons of salsa evenly over the crust like a sauce. Sprinkle the tofu taco crumble over the salsa. You may have more than you need, so feel free to save the rest for another meal. Add about ½ cup of cashew cheese (spooned on or drizzled straight from the blender, if using) or toss on some store-bought vegan cheese over the tofu crumble.

Bake

• Carefully place the skillet into the preheated oven. Bake for 12–15 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the crust is looking golden brown and crisp, and the toppings are hot.

Top It Off

• Once it's out of the oven, let it cool just slightly, then load it up with your fresh toppings: shredded lettuce or cabbage, diced tomato, avocado slices, green onion, and cilantro. Add a drizzle of hot sauce, some crushed tortilla chips, or vegan sour cream if you like!