These 5-Ingredient Mini Eggplant Pizzas are perfect to serve as an appetizer at your next diner party, or even as a side dish with an Italian-inspired meal!
If you could go back in time and ask 7-year-old Christina what her favorite food was, she would without a doubt say “pizza”. And I think this stems from elementary school days where we had pizza parties. Somehow the utter excitement of the class upon hearing we were having a PIZZA PARTY (WUTTT!!?!?!) greatly influenced my opinion of pizza. Pizza was the greatest food group (yes, GROUP). Pizza IS heaven.
But, as I so constantly preach on this here blog, everything in moderation. So unfortunately, that means I can’t have pizza every single day (or else I probably would…). So I’ve come up with a way to resolve this horrifying problem. Little eggplant pizzas!
I love eggplant, and I think my love for this vegetable grew after visiting Sicily, where it was ubiquitous as a menu option, in all forms (melanzane in Italian).
Speaking of elementary school… remember when the little things used to excite us to no end?
I was at a wedding this past weekend, and at the wedding there were these giant Jenga games in the lawn (it was outside in a beautiful garden). I couldn’t help but notice the adults standing, cocktails in-hand, engaging in conversation with friends old and new. Meanwhile, the children were going H.A.M. on this Jenga. Having the time of their lives. With wooden blocks stacked on top of each other. The simple things.
Something happens as we grow up. We are engulfed in responsibility, worry, stress, work. We forget the value in the simple things. We lose that sense of excitement that we once had when we younger. We used to see a pizza party as the greatest day of our lives, and now, pizza is a last resort option when we don’t have time to cook.
And that’s why I preach the philosophy of celebrating every step. Taking the time to realize that even though it may have been something small in relative terms, whatever it is, is awesome. (Just like these mini eggplant pizzas – small, but awesome.)
So I have a challenge for you.
Do something that you used to get excited for as a child this week. No matter how silly it may feel.
Build a fort. Watch an old movie with a giant bowl of popcorn (and maybe throw some M&Ms in *woah*). Make chocolate chip cookies and eat too many. Go on a bike ride and notice any wild life around you.
Take a moment, appreciate, and celebrate.
[Tweet “Eggplant pizzas and a rant about celebrating life as adults”]
Back to your regularly scheduled program.
These little gems were ridiculously quick, and ridiculously good. There’s just something about the sweetness of eggplant combined with smooth yet crispy mozzarella and salty prosciutto.
I do have to note, that if you are not a fan of bitter flavors, make sure to remove the skin before eating. Eggplant skin is very bitter, which can change the whole flavor profile when consuming. I am one of those people, so when I ate these, I simply tore off the skin (which comes off very easily after roasting!)
- 1 eggplant, sliced into 1/2-1 inch think circles
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Marinara sauce
- Salt
- EVOO
- *Optional toppings:
- Sliced prosciutto
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
- Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Place the eggplant slices onto a baking pan and sprinkle each slice with salt. Let sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the water to excrete. Eggplant are a very moist vegetable, and for the sake of firm pizzas, you want to drain the moisture!
- When you come back to your slices, you’ll notice droplets of water on top. Use a paper towel to sweep off the salt and the water.
- Lay eggplant back on the baking sheet and drizzle evenly with extra virgin olive oil. Do not add any more salt!
- Place in the oven and roast for about 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and spread about a tbsp of marinara (or pizza sauce) on each slice. Sprinkle with desired amount of mozzarella cheese on each, in addition to whichever toppings you prefer.
- Set your broiler to high.
- Add the eggplant back in and broil for about five minutes, or until the cheese is melted and crispy.
[Tweet “5-Ingredient Mini Eggplant Pizzas”]
Join the conversation:
What’s something that you used to get SO STOKED about as a child?
If you liked this recipe, don’t forget to pin it for later by clicking the red ‘P’ button hovering the image!
I have a similar recipe that I posted months ago buuuuut yours look way better (if I can admit that? Yes, yes I can). I think I’ll celebrate the little things today by going on an extra long walk with Layla (It’s supposed to be warm out!) and sipping on my iced coffee a little more slowly <–nearly impossible
I LOVE THAT, sipping on your coffee slowly. I think I down mine way too quickly LOL. I’ll have to check yours out because I bet it’s beautiful as always! Great minds think alike
Julia Child inspired this one for me!!
Oh my gosh something I ALSO need to do is drink my coffee (both hot and cold) more slowly. I am so bad at downing it!
If there’s one veggie that never cooperates for me it’s eggplant. I gotta try this one!
I actually used to haaate eggplant and over the years I found a LOVE for it! I hope you love it!!
I love this pizza idea. Great tip about the eggplant skins – I think that’s why I’ve never been a big eggplant fan. Can’t wait to try these!
Yeah seriously it’s such a huge difference without the skin. Much sweeter – I’m the same way. Thanks Rebecca!!
Those would make such a cute app at parties! Love the idea and I feel like you can’t go wrong with pizza!
That’s what I was thinking! It’s super easy to make a bunch of them so easy app to serve for guests. Thanks Hilary!!
Oh YUMMY! I love mini little pizzas and I think this is a great one that you can try so many different combos with too…I LOVE pizza and sometime it is nice to have a “healthier” option…XOXO
Right?? I could seriously eat pizza everyday LOL but thats nottt such a great idea. This had the flavors I love in a healthier (and smaller) package 😀
YUM! Definitely going to be pinning this!
Funnily enough, once I left to go to University, i NEVER ate pizza. Literally once a year. Now that i’ve moved to Toronto something inside me clicked and I eat it like… once a week.
Definitely going to be trying these cause i need to cut down my late to the game pizza addiction
ME TOO. Seriously! When I was in college I rarely ever ate it. I never had any when everyone else ordered it on drunken nights haha. There’s a pizza place really close to our house that we love so we go there all the time. i lovvea tha pizza
These look so easy to make, I love it! And I agree with you so much. Everything was always SO exciting as a kid. I used to get so pumped about going to the pool during the summer. We never had pool passes or anything so when we went on the weekends or with friends it was like the best day ever haha.
Haha that is too funny. I was the same way when I lived in Memphis. We had neighbors that had a pool and if we went to their house it was the best day ever. And now, I’ve lived in Tampa for 16 years with a pool, and I can count on my 10 fingers how many times I’ve gone in it lol (oops!)
These look so delicious! You’re so right the sweetness of eggplant goes so well with salty meats like prosciutto. I can’t wait to make these
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RIGHT I love that combo so much. Oh please share if you do I’d love to see if you like em!!
Eggplant is my favorite veggie and I just bought 4 eggplant at TJ’s yesterday, not even kidding! I’ve made the zucchini pizzas before but never used eggplant, totally trying this! Also love that you added prosciutto, love that stuff!
Lol what perfect timing!! ;D What do you usually do with them like what’s your go-to?
Loving this recipe AND your challenge! I was just talking to my bf last night about how much I loved playing basketball as a kid…I think I’ve found an excuse to hop back on the court 😉
I played basketball for like 5-6 years as a kid and I absolutely loved it. We used to have a basketball hoop on our driveway and I miss it so much!
Love the idea of re-creating a childhood favorite. When you mentioned getting excited about something as a child, my mind IMMEDIATELY raced to that feeling of running to the swings.. you know, to get the good one obviously. Something about that moment was just so freeing. It’s not something I ever think about but I’m so glad you reminded me
Pizza is still one of adult Alysia’s favorite foods! Lol. I’ve never tried an eggplant version. Truth be told, I don’t cook with egg plant much at all! I should change that.
I love this post Christina! Everything from theses little pizzas to you telling me to build a fort. 😀 I used to love building forts and playing “hot lava” when my brothers and sisters growing up <3
They look amazing! I’ve always had bad experience with eggplant (the bitterness perhaps?) but I would be so happy to give these a go! I love cooking things that remind me of my childhood! My mum taught me how to bake and my love for baking so this post is bringing back heaps of memories
I think Christmas was always my favourite time of year – still is especially when I get to have all my family together again! (A rareity!)
These look so simple and delicious! I love eggplant but I’ve never tried using it for a pizza recipe. I usually do polenta pizzas or zucchini pizzas. Can’t wait to make this! (Oh and I totally felt like a kid this weekend after making a batch of brownie cookies and devouring the whole thing with my roomie while watching chick flicks
)
So easy, budget-friendly not to mention healthy. Can’t wait to try. Thanks for sharing!
My dear friend is obsessed with eggplant. Will be passing this post along to her!
My boys would love these, can’t wait to make them over summer!