Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza Recipe

Making pizza at home is not only more cost effective but you get to put on as much or as little of the ingredients you love. For vegetarians, the pizza option doesn’t have to tasteless. After trying this vegetable gourmet creation meat lover pizza eaters might not look back!

This recipe takes one large pizza. Preparation time is 1 hour. Cooking time is 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Pizza Sauce

1 can chopped tomatoes

2 finely chopped garlic cloves

1 dried basil leaf

1 teaspoon of dried basil

1 teaspoon of dried oregano

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of salt

Pizza Topping

1 eggplant sliced 1cm thick and halved

6 cherry tomatoes

5 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of salt

1 large thinly sliced onion

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 thinly slices mushrooms

125g freshly sliced mozzarella

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/2 cup fresh baby spinach

Pizza Base

50g pizza base flour

125ml hot water

2 tablespoons flour

Directions

• Preheat fan forced oven to 130 C.
• Start by placing whole cherry tomatoes and eggplant on a baking tray. Cover with 3 of the tablespoons of olive oil, pepper and salt. Place in the oven for 1 hour or until well cooked, turning occasionally. Eggplant should be soggy with a crisp skin.
• To prepare sauce place the can of tomatoes, garlic, basil leaf, dried basil, oregano, pepper and salt into a small saucepan and leave to simmer on a medium heat, stirring occasional, for half an hour or until most of the liquid has evaporated and it stirs like a thick sauce.
• Place the onion rings into a small non-stick fry pan with 2 tablespoons of oil and cook on medium heat until soft for approximately 20 minutes. When well cooked add balsamic vinegar and continue to cook slowly until liquid has evaporated and onions are of a sticky consistency.
• To prepare pizza base place flour and water into a bowl. Mix together with hands until forms a small ball then knead for approximately 5 minutes. Place dough on a floured bench and roll with a floured covered rolling into a 30cm diameter base. Put base on a second baking tray and prick thoroughly with a fork. Place in oven with baking tomatoes and eggplant for 10 minutes or until it turns a light golden brown.
• Remove pizza base and vegetables from oven when ready.
• Increase oven temperature to 200 C.
• Apply tomato pizza sauce to base followed by the cooked onions, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, mushroom, mozzarella, spinach and cheddar.
• Place complete pizza in oven for 15-20 minutes or until well cooked.

Tips

• Serve with a light spinach and rocked salad.
• For a stronger cheesy taste sprinkle shaved parmesan immediately prior to serving.