This simple vegetable eggplant pizza will satisfy all your pizza cravings and more! These low carb, gluten free, grain free pizzas are easy to make and a great way to get more vegetables into your diet! You can easily customize these eggplant pizzas for whatever your craving – veggies, pepperoni, margarita, you name it!
One of my favorite indulgences in the world is pizza. Perfectly melted cheese with really good marinara and all the veggies (remember I’ve been mostly vegetarian for the past 17 years – veggie pizza is my jam). Oh the smell alone gets me salivating. Well I was hoping to cure my craving by making something a little more figure friendly. Plus with Dave’s gluten allergy/intolerance, going out for pizza is really not an option.
The last time Dave and I went out for pizza, he was sick for at least a week. Even though we ordered gluten free pizza, I’m guessing the dough was cross contaminated. This was a very eye-opening experience for both of us. People that don’t believe in gluten allergies and gluten sensitivity, I’m telling you it’s a real thing. I have never in my life seen someone go from healthy to can’t find the energy to walk up the stairs so quickly in my life. So now we try to limit our eating out. It’s been saving us money (which is a plus) and it’s also given me the chance to experiment a little more with food. And Dave has found a few gluten free frozen pizzas that he loves and don’t cause him any reactions, so he’s a happy boy again. Because let’s be honest, he will only eat a pizza made of vegetables so many times before he revolts!
My usual go to of cauliflower crust or zucchini crust pizzas sounded like too much work for me the other day. And I had a lonely eggplant just hoping to be turned into something magnificent. Well pizza is pretty magnificent. And this simple vegetable eggplant pizza quite honestly blew my mind. It was so much better than I expected and I was really upset when I ate the last of it yesterday. I think eggplant will start being part of my weekly grocery list just so I can make this eggplant pizza more often!
For all of you that have been looking for a low carb way to enjoy pizza but haven’t had much success with making cauliflower pizza, you absolutely must try this eggplant pizza out! It’s super simple and I was able to pick up the little mini pizzas and eat them just like pizza, which made me a happy girl!
So what made this eggplant pizza so amazing. Well first I took the time to sweat out the bitter taste from the eggplant. Sounds complicated, but it’s not. You simply slice the eggplant, sprinkle salt over it and let it sit over a rack to allow the excess moisture to sweat out. With this moisture comes some of the bitter taste you might be used to with eggplant. After about 30 minutes, I just took a clean dish towel (or you could use paper towels) and squeezed gently on both sides of the eggplant. This helps remove the salt and also helps squeeze out any additional moisture. This simple step really helps the eggplant a long way, and I highly recommend doing this if you have time.
The second way I made sure that this eggplant would be out of this world amazing, I added a little bit of balsamic vinegar to each eggplant slice right before roasting! It was a last minute decision and I really think it’s what made this eggplant pizza so irresistible. I used about 2 tbs. total on the eggplant. You have to remember that eggplants are like sponges, so you need to pour just a little bit of balsamic over each eggplant slice, you can’t just pour it on and expect to be able to stir it up if that makes sense. Be sure to line your baking sheet with parchment paper sprayed with nonstick spray (I used coconut oil) as well, to help ensure that the eggplant doesn’t stick.
Roast the eggplant for about 30 minutes. then top it with marinara, cheese, veggies and bake again for about 10 minutes to get everything melty and perfect. Then just serve with your favorite salad and viola, dinner is ready!
You have to try this simple vegetable eggplant pizza for an easy #glutenfree #meatlessmonday meal… Click To Tweet
- 1 large eggplant
- 1 tbs. salt (for sweating the eggplant)
- 2 tbs. balsamic vinegar
- 17 minute marinara
- ⅓- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or goat's milk cheddar
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- ½ red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 handful arugula
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- Slice the eggplant into about ½ inch thick disks.
- Place the eggplant slices over a wire cooling rack and baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. on both sides of the eggplant. Let sweat for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Use a clean dish towel or paper towels and carefully squeeze out the excess water from both sides of the eggplant slices by pressing on the top and the bottom at the same time. This also helps remove the salt.
- Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and spray with non-stick spray.
- Place the eggplant slices that have been pressed on the parchment paper.
- Divide 2 tbs. of balsamic vinegar evenly between the eggplant slices.
- Roast for 30 minutes at 400F.
- While the eggplant is roasting, make the 7 minute marinara if you are making sauce.
- Remove the eggplant from the oven and top with the marinara. Add shredded cheese and sliced veggies. Sprinkle the veggies with a pinch of salt and the Italian seasoning.
- Bake at 400F for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and veggies are slightly soft.
- Serve hot with your favorite salad!
What about you?
- What are your favorite pizza toppings?
- Have you ever made a low carb pizza before? Thoughts?
A normal pizza place that has “gluten-free pizza” is like a celiac in Panera BREAD hahaha! It just doesn’t mix no matter what they “say”. (i.e. gluten-conscious” options???)
Homemade pizza always wins though 😉
Never thought of using eggplant for the pizza base. What an inventive idea. Looks so good. I love artichokes, olives, mushrooms, endive, you name it. I love it all on pizza!
Simple but perfect! Looks delicious, Sam!
It has been far too long since I’ve had eggplant. I need to fix that.
Oh my gosh I made something like this for my cousin’s bridal shower in august and my fam went crazy over them! Love that you used homemade marinara too! YUM!
Thanks for linking up for Meatless Mondays. I so wish I could have eggplant but my husband and son are allergic so we never have it!
These look so goood! I lovee eggplant!
poor dave. I’ve been there. It makes it hard to enjoy going out. BUt with your version and staying in relaxing, you can totally enjoy!
I do not eat eggplant nearly enough – what the heck is wrong with me!
I think this is a great idea and I am printing the recipe now! Visiting you from Tweak It Tuesday.
Have a great day…….
I love this idea! I am a huge eggplant fan… still trying to convert Vegas, but I think she’d like anything in pizza form. 🙂
These eggplant pizza’s are so fun and super cute! What a great way to eat all your veggies 😉
Sounds healthy and kooks so delicious! I will have to give this a try. Need to check out the cauliflower crust as well. Pinning!
This is a wonderful idea! I love, love eggplant and am always looking for new and unique ways to cook with it. Will try this recipe for sure! Thanks!
–G
I love dishes like this! I’ve done like an eggplant ricotta before and loved it. I need to get back into eggplant this summer.
That looks wonderful ~you always have such amazing recipes!
I bought a nice package of eggplants from Costco and they went bad because I didnt’ make time to use them 🙁 gah!! These look amazing though, and I now I’m craving pizza too 🙂 happy Friday, Sam!
Love this recipe. Definitely going to try them since I’m the only one in my house that eats eggplant. Visiting from Sits Girls Sharefest. Have a great weekend!
I am sure this recipe is tasting as good as it looks!
Found you from #SITSBlogging
Have a great Sunday!
Sinziana
These look amazing! I can’t wait to give them a try, Pinned & Yummed 🙂 I would love for you to share this great recipe at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up at: http://www.marathonsandmotivation.com
we grow eggplant in our garden. These looks so delicious. Pinned and thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite hings blog hop xo
Ooo yum! This reminds me of the italian dish aubergine parmigiana which I absolutely love. The problem is that I am now dairy free and this certainly needs cheese! Hey ho. May be one day cheese will be back on the menu!
Hi Sam, This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & shared. See you again soon!