Eggplant Parmesan Pizza

I'm all about mini finger foods that you can serve to guests at a dinner party or get together, especially when they are grab and go dishes. These cute and healthy 'pizzas' are a great appetizer that you can snack on without the guilt! You can even choose to add some toppings on the eggplant rings that are already topped with homemade pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, dried parsley, and a drizzle of olive oil! Yum!

These are a great healthy alternative, if you're looking for ways to increase your vegetable intake!

I even sprinkled some Panko breadcrumbs for added texture and more Italian-inspired flavors.

Eggplants are a type of vegetable that you don't really find in too many dishes, and for most people, it's a hard one to get just right when cooking. Sometimes the flavor is too bland, or the texture can be a bit mushy. This recipe in particular though, fixes both of those things, and will hopefully get you to enjoy eggplants!

Roasting the eggplants beforehand is key. I didn't do this on the first try and the eggplant base turned out very soft, making it harder to eat. As for the toppings, save those for last! And you can add any topping that you would add on a pizza, such as olives, bell peppers, and even some pepperoni!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes Yields: 10-12 Pieces

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Large Eggplant (try to choose one that is wide, for bigger rings)

• 1 Tbsp. Salt

• 1/2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

• 1 cup Pizza sauce

• 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

• 1 Tbsp. Dried Parsley

• Salt and Pepper, to taste

• Any extra toppings you like*

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Slice the eggplants into rings about 1/2 in. thick (you'll get various sizes because of the width of the eggplant).

3. Place them on an aluminum foil-lined tray. Pat them dry with a paper towel on both sides, to remove any excess moisture.

4. Sprinkle the Tbsp. of salt over all of the rings, evenly on both sides.

5. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes so that the salt can grab the leftover moisture.

6. Gently pat again on both sides with a paper towel. Drizzle the tops of the eggplants with the olive oil.

7. Bake the eggplants for 15-20 minutes, until they are a golden brown.

8. Remove from oven and add a spoonful of pizza sauce on each.

9. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and parsley.

10. Add desired toppings.

11. Broil on low for 5 minutes.

12. Serve and enjoy!