eggplant pizza

Pizza has been my favorite food for most of my life. My family & friends know I never turn down a slice! But some nights, the dense bread is just too heavy for me. That led me to begin experimenting with alternatives to bread & I quickly found that eggplant was a game changer.

This recipe is gluten-free & keto friendly. It can be easily made vegan by replacing the mozzarella for your favorite dairy free cheese, and ensuring the pesto you use is vegan. If you need any recommendations, reach out!

A few notes for the ideal bake : if you have a crisping baking sheet, this is the perfect recipe for it. Crispy eggplant takes this recipe to new levels. If you don’t have a crisping sheet, slice the eggplant as thin as you can (while still being sure it can support the toppings!) and dab away any moisture with a paper towel after the first bake. Lastly, feel free to get creative with toppings! Just about anything you would put on regular pizza will be just as tasty on these slices!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 eggplant

• 1/2 yellow onion

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1/2 cup of chopped, roasted red peppers

• 1/2 cup of vegan, sun-dried tomato pesto

• 1&1/2 cup of crushed tomatoes

• 1 tbsp. oregano

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1 tsp. pepper

• approx. 4 tbsp. olive oil

  TO MAKE IT:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Slice the eggplant, lengthwise, about 1/3 - 1/4 inch thick.

• Lay out the sliced eggplant, drizzle with ~2 tbsp. olive oil & sprinkle with salt & pepper.

• Transfer the eggplant slices to a crisping baking sheet/baking sheet & bake for 7-10 minutes, until the eggplant appears wrinkled & thinner.

• Meanwhile, chop the garlic, onion & roasted red pepper.

• In a large skillet, sauté the garlic & onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until aromatic.

• Mix in the crushed tomatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto, & the roasted red peppers.

• After removing the eggplant from it’s first bake, top with the tomato mixture, oregano, mozzarella, or any toppings of your choice!

• Bake the loaded slices for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

• Remove from the oven, sprinkle on some red pepper flakes & ENJOY!