Description
This easy eggplant pizza recipe features roasted eggplant rounds topped with flavorful pizza sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and roasted baby bella mushrooms. Perfect as a low-carb dinner or appetizer, it combines the heartiness of eggplant with classic pizza flavors for a satisfying and healthy meal.
Ingredients
Eggplant Base
- 1 large globe eggplant, cut into ½ inch rounds
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
Toppings
- 1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- ½ cup pizza sauce
Garnishes
- Crushed red pepper for garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Eggplant: Place the eggplant rounds on a baking sheet, generously salt them and let them sit for 20 minutes to sweat. Then, use a paper towel to wipe off excess moisture and salt.
- Preheat Oven and Season: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush eggplant slices with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with black pepper.
- Bake Eggplant: Bake the eggplant slices until softened and slightly golden brown for about 30 minutes.
- Roast Mushrooms: While the eggplant is baking, toss sliced baby bella mushrooms with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, season with salt and pepper, spread on a sheet pan and roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Assemble Pizzas: Remove baked eggplant slices from oven and top each with about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce, then sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top, followed by the roasted mushrooms.
- Final Bake: Return the assembled eggplant pizzas to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with crushed red pepper and fresh basil leaves, and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Sweating the eggplant removes bitterness and excess moisture, preventing sogginess.
- If desired, mushrooms can be substituted with other favorite pizza toppings like bell peppers or olives.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for best melting and flavor results.
- To make this recipe vegan, substitute cheeses with plant-based alternatives.
- For a crisper eggplant base, consider broiling the eggplant slices for a couple of minutes at the end instead of baking longer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
