Looking for some creative ways to get more vegetables into your diet? How about trying healthy Eggplant Pizza Rounds. I topped my guys with a homemade red sauce, some spiced up shredded chicken, sun dried tomatoes, black olives and raw goat cheese. You can top with whatever toppings you choose!
Eggplant is a great source of soluble fiber, vitamins B1 and B6 as well as potassium, copper, magnesium, panganese, phosphorus, niacin and folic acid. The pretty purple skin of the eggplant contains a potent antioxidant called nasunin which has been shown to protect cell membranes from damage, brain cells in particular(1). It is often recommended to tenderize eggplant to reduce some of its bitter taste by salting it. After cutting the eggplant into the desired shape, sprinkle with salt and allow it to rest for about 30 minutes. This pulls out some of the eggplant’s water content and along with it, some of the bitter components.
Eggplant Pizza Rounds
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 Large Eggplant
- Celtic Sea Salt
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Homemade Red Sauce
- Pizza Toppings
Directions
- Slice eggplant into 12 uniform rounds, 1/4-1/2″ thick.
- Lay rounds on a sheet of parchment paper lined with paper towels.
- Prick both sides with fork and sprinkle with salt.
- Let sit for 30 minutes to draw out the bitterness and water.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, lay out eggplant rounds and brush or spray with olive oil.
- Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, flip over, brush or spray again, and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven, add toppings and return to oven for a final 10 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Shortly after I started Healthy Living How To, a reader prompted me to try a Misto Sprayer for a healthy non-stick baking/cooking spray. At the time, I was using, what I considered to be the healthiest non-stick spray on the market, Spectrum Naturals coconut oil spray. Non-stick spray is a common kitchen convenience, however, the propellants found in these products are concerning to some. If you are looking to avoid the chemicals found in non-stick cooking spray give the Misto Sprayer a try. I haven’t bought a can of non-stick spray in nearly a year.
Absolutely delicious. Have made several times and love them.