Eggplant Mini Pizza

September 24, 2014mayurisjikoni
Blog post

Eggplants and Italy

During my holiday to Italy, I was a bit disappointed that the choice of food for vegetarians was very limited. All I could think of was Margherita pizzas, pasta with tomato sauce, pasta with mushrooms or cold grilled vegetables. However, mostly  it would be grilled eggplants, zucchini and pepper. No garlic or onion flavour and forget about getting any chilli flakes. I seriously wouldn’t have complained if  they would have served Eggplant Mini Pizza. Pizza hut and Dominos spoil us by giving us endless satchets of chilli flakes. Italian restaurants in India and Kenya give us chilli oil, yummy chilli sauces, pestos that are chilli. However, visit any restaurant in Italy and its difficult to find any of those extra condiments… no extra olive oil, chilli oil, chilli flakes, salt or pepper! Since were with a tour company Cosmos, they chose the restaurants we would dine at and hotels we would stay at. Most of these hotels didn’t serve fresh fruit which was really disappointing. If one wanted to have fruit it was the canned one. During our tours hubby and I would try and buy fresh fruits that were sold as street food, enjoy a slice or two of the pizza and had tonnes and tonnes of  gelato.

Italy 3

Italy 2

Italy 1

No more eggplants

Once we got back to Mombasa, I vowed not to buy eggplants for a very long time. I was just fed up of nearly a whole month of eggplants. However, that vow was short leaved. Dear Esther, who brings vegetables daily to my door step eagerly showed off lovely huge eggplants. I didn’t buy them. Second day, she appears with eggplants again. Protested that she was not bringing anything else besides eggplants. Third day I gave in. To get back the taste of eggplant as I know it I prepared my usual brinjal potato shaak (eggplant and potato curry). 

 

What can you make with eggplants?

Eggplants, aubergine or brinjals as they are called are high in iron, have good dietary fibre and are full of vital vitamins and minerals. Its common to find that eggplants feature a lot in the Indian Cuisine. Hubby loves baigan bharta which is a mashed up brinjal curry and we enjoy it with some hot roti. I love having baigan raita which is an eggplant and yogurt salad during the hot summer days. Have you tried a Roasted Eggplant Dip? It goes so well with crackers, pita chips or even tortilla chips. Don’t want a mashed up eggplant curry, then try out this South Indian style Chidambaram Gosthu.

 

Why did I make Eggplant Mini Pizza?

After all the sweet delicious, hard to resist pastries and bakes, all the gelato we had and yes the pizza slices from the street vendors, hubby and I had gained a few pounds and were trying to get back into shape. Not that I’m any ideal shape, but that’s another story. After a few days had a craving for pizza. Still in the mood of eating healthy, I  thought that just one slice of pizza will do no harm. Much to my horror, one slice of Margherita Pizza is 290 calories. With toppings the calorie count goes up. A whole thin crust pizza with which is about 8-10 inches contains anywhere between 1200 -1400 calories. Up cropped the idea of using eggplant as the base (had seen clicks on Pinterest) and voila we satisfied our craving for pizza.

 

A bit about Pizza

Pizza actually originated in Naples as a poor man’s meal where the bread was topped with tomato puree, meat and cheese.Since then pizza has become an international dish. The Italians believe that the typical pizza with tomato (red), basil (green) and mozzarella cheese(white) represents the Italian flag, just as Queen Margherita preferred. Thus the name Margherita pizza in her honour. 

 

A Must Stay At Place in Rome

After our touring with Cosmos got over, we had a couple of days on our own in Rome. We had booked a room at Relais Il Casale, Ostia Antica. Its a beautiful agri touristic place with lots of greenery around. The cottage like rooms are tastefully decorated and cozy. The owners, a husband and wife team, are very friendly. By the time we reached the place it was pretty late and the chef had left. However, the owner was able to bring a plate of food for us from an event that was taking place in their reception area. Next day we were leaving in the evening to catch our flight back to Kenya and they wrapped a ciabatta sandwich for us to have on the way! Weekends are pretty busy as locals from surrounding areas come to relax and enjoy barbecue Italian style. Around the barbecue place, they have an antique oven which apparently was used by their forefathers to bake pizza. They also have a working  antique hand pump where one can draw water from the well. Unfortunately, the photo didn’t come out good at all. 

Casale 5

Casale 1

Casale 2

Casale 3

casale 4

Casale 6

Let’s get back on track

Eggplant pizza is a fun and healthy way to enjoy the flavors of a pizza without any guilt. I like to make the Marinara Sauce at home. Come to think of it, its so easy to make this delicious sauce at home. As for the toppings, let your imagination run riot. I sometimes add cherry tomatoes, cubed paneer, only olives, mushrooms, actually whatever is available.When I took the photos of the Eggplant Mini Pizza, I had used only olives. 

Dietary Tips:

  • It is gluten free
  • Its a perfect kept recipe, don’t top with onion as its already in the sauce, don’t use sweet corn.
  • For a satvik friendly recipe, don’t use onion or garlic. Use a vegetarian cheese. 

Go on try out this easy, guilt free pizza recipe.

eggplant mini pizza 2

eggplant mini pizza 1

 

eggplant mini pizza 4

eggplant mini pizza 5

EGGPLANT MINI PIZZA

Makes 4

1 large eggplant or 2 medium size ones (approx 500g)

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

¾ cup pizza sauce/ marinara sauce

Topping Suggestions:

1 small onion sliced thinly

10 -12 cherry tomatoes, cut into thick slices

8 olives cut into slices

6- 8 mushrooms sliced

Finely cubed paneer

½ cup sweet corn

colored  peppers

few fresh basil leaves and/or dried herbs

½ tsp salt

1-2 tbsp olive oil

½ -1 tsp chilli flakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with foil or grease it lightly with oil.
  2. Trim the stalk off the eggplant. Cut it into 4 thick slices lengthwise.Each slice should be about ½ inch thick.
  3. 2 slices will have a curved bottom. Slice it slightly to make it sit well on the tray.
  4. Place the eggplant slices on the tray.
  5. Brush oil over it.
  6. Sprinkle salt over the slices.
  7. Bake the slices for 10 minutes.
  8. Remove the tray with the slices from the oven.
  9. Spread the pizza/marinara sauce over the slices.
  10. Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce.
  11. Top it with your favorite topping.
  12. Sprinkle chilli flakes and dried herbs.
  13. Bake for 15-20 minutes or till the eggplants are done and the cheese has melted and is bubbling.
  14. Top with fresh herb of your choice and serve immediately.

 

Tips:

  • Make sure that the eggplant slices are not thicker than ½ inch or else it will not bake well. 
  • Use the big variety of eggplants for best results.
  • Add cheese of your choice.
  • The knife should cut through easily if the eggplant is done.
  • To serve as finger food, cut the brinjal into round slices.

Pin for Later:

eggplant mini pizza

 

42 Comments

  • Gloria

    September 29, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    wow this eggplant pizza sounds interesting…would love to try this..yumm yumm..thanks for linking it to my event

  • Kris

    November 27, 2019 at 7:08 pm

    It looks so tasty! I definitely will cook it!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 11:03 am

      Thank you so much and enjoy.

  • Nate

    November 27, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    Last weekend we saw a recipe similar to this and tried to make it. After seeing your eggplant pizza recipe, it looks way better. So we’ll give this another whirl this weekend. Thank you for this!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 11:03 am

      Most welcome Nate and the first time I tried making the eggplant pizza, the eggplant didn’t bake well. That’s why I bake it first on its own for a few minutes before adding the topping.

  • poutineandprada

    November 27, 2019 at 9:27 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone complain about the food in Italy before! Ha ha ha! The eggplant pizza looks delicious though:)

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 11:01 am

      My hubby had a wonderful food experience in Italy as he eats non veg food.

      1. poutineandprada

        November 28, 2019 at 8:51 pm

        Well that’s good!

  • Chad

    November 28, 2019 at 2:58 am

    I’ve never heard of eggplant pizza!!! I would love to give it a shot, so exciting.

  • Norma

    November 28, 2019 at 4:51 am

    This eggplant mini pizza looks delicious, healthy, and nutritious. I will try the recipe as soon as I have some eggplants at home.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 11:00 am

      Thank you so much Norma and hope you enjoy the eggplant pizza.

  • ♡Stephanie Stebbins♡ (@stephsteb)

    November 28, 2019 at 5:18 am

    My mom loves anything with Eggplant in it so I’m always trying to find good recipes. These looks delicious!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 10:59 am

      Thanks Stephanie, please try out the recipe and am sure your mom will love it.

  • Joanna

    November 28, 2019 at 1:10 pm

    I have never thought about using an eggplant as the base for a pizza. I can imagine though that it is delicious, especially with so much mozzarella on top. Great alternative for a vegetarian pizza.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 3:18 pm

      Joanna it is a delicious way to enjoy a low carb meal. You can add meat toppings and reduce the amount of cheese.

  • World of Faz

    November 28, 2019 at 2:29 pm

    This is making me hungry.. I am definitely going to try to make this as well. Another health choice for me.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 3:16 pm

      Thank you so much, hope you enjoy it.

  • Erin

    November 28, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    Eggplant pizza is amazing! My partner is Italian and he uses eggplants for everything that he cooks. I’m not complaining, its delicious.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 10:20 pm

      🙂 🙂 me too not complaining, but eggplants in all the restaurants we ate at tasted the same. Next time if I ever go to Italy, not going with a tour company.

  • Fransic Verso

    November 28, 2019 at 8:29 pm

    This recipe is looking delicious and make me feel hungry to eat one. I’ve never been to Italy and can’t say anything about but I’m sure they would have other vegetarian food options.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 28, 2019 at 10:17 pm

      Thanks Fransic. As I said because we were with a tour company we really didn’t get the opportunity to venture out on our own. Am sure there must be some good vegetarian food there.

  • Beauty with Lala (@Pink_Frenzy)

    November 29, 2019 at 12:29 am

    The eggplant pizza looks so delicious and I usually don’t like eggplant. I would give this a try though x

    Laura
    https://www.beautywithlala.com/

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 29, 2019 at 12:16 pm

      Thanks Laura, hope you like it when you try the recipe out.

  • Garf

    November 29, 2019 at 1:00 am

    Eggplant mini pizza, yes please! This is making me hungry right now.

  • TweenselMom (@TweenselMom)

    November 29, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    This looks like a delicious pizza and healthy too!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

      Thank you so much.

  • TweenselMom (@TweenselMom)

    November 29, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    What a delicious looking pizza, and healthy too!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 30, 2019 at 10:37 am

      Thanks.

  • JUSTYNA

    November 29, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    HEALTHY EGPLANT PIZZA SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER TO ME! YUMMY!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      November 30, 2019 at 10:36 am

      Thank you so much Justyna.

  • shobhakeshwani

    December 1, 2019 at 3:21 am

    What a lovely idea of making pizza with eggplant .. Loved all the pics. These kind of ovens are very popular in Brazil too.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 2, 2019 at 9:01 am

      Thanks Shobha.

  • FoodTrails

    December 1, 2019 at 8:28 am

    You are right Mayuriji authentic Italian tastes a little blend for us( Indians)!! Loved this idea of eggplant pizza.. I love eggplant and no one in family likes it .I can make a slice or two for myself when I make Pizza for kids..

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 2, 2019 at 9:01 am

      Thanks Swaty, hubby doesn’t like it too much, I always have to make something to go with it like a soup, however, I tend to make if for myself using one small eggplant.

  • simplysensationalfood

    December 1, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    I am surprised at the lack of flavoursome food in Italy as it is so well known for its amazing cuisine. The eggplant pizza sounds delicious , and a great way to enjoy pizza without loading with lots of carbs,

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 2, 2019 at 8:58 am

      Thanks Nayna, as I mentioned in the write up, the restaurants that were designated by the tour were not too good for vegetarian option.

  • Mireille Roc (@ChefMireille)

    December 5, 2019 at 6:58 am

    I don’t like eggplant so no matter how many times Esther came back I would not be buying eggplant. However, I love the idea of this with some squash. Italian food is very regional and I think you would prefer the options in Southern Italy and the isles more. There they use more chili!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 5, 2019 at 10:22 pm

      I’m sure my poor Esther would be so disappointed 😉 Squash pizza sounds interesting.

  • sizzlingtastebuds

    December 10, 2019 at 12:43 pm

    The colours are just popping out on the screen, Mayuri … I make a similar eggplant (flourfree) pizza at home… and so much for your resolve of not buyign eggplants, lol 🙂

    1. mayurisjikoni

      December 10, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks Kalyani.

  • Healthy Lunch

    March 24, 2022 at 11:24 am

    I loved your article and the recipe is delicious!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 24, 2022 at 9:20 pm

      thanks

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post Next Post

Example Colors

%d bloggers like this: