Friday, July 23, 2010

Caramelized Eggplant and Fresh Tomato Pizza






Friday is pizza day at my house.




And it's also time for a fantastic Foodie Friday celebration at
Michael Lee is our gracious hostess with the mostess 
so I hope you will join me there for this wonderful event. 
I know you will enjoy it.


Wolfgang Puck's pizza dough recipe is one of my favorites and is quick and easy to prepare. The flavor of the crust improves if the dough rests in the refrigerator for several days so I try to remember to prepare it on Tuesday or Wednesday.  When you are ready to make your pizza let the dough come to room temperature and shape it into a 14" round on a sheet of parchment paper (The recipe will make 2 this size). Let the dough rest for about 10 minutes. I started using paper after I flipped a whole unbaked pizza upside down in my hot oven when I tried to slide it onto a hot stone. The pizza is always perfectly shaped and has a nicely browned bottom crust.  It's the only way to go, believe me.  Brush the formed dough with olive oil and bake on a pizza stone for 5 minutes in your oven that has been preheated for 20 minutes to 500 degrees.

Remove the pie from the oven and lightly spread with well seasoned tomato sauce, sliced red onion, kalamata olives, lots of mozzarella and feta cheese and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes and return it to the hot oven for 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is almost melted.

Remove pie from the oven and top with caramelized eggplant* and bake for another 4-6 minutes or until nicely browned. Remove from the oven and add a final topping of chopped tomatoes, basil and parsley.

* To caramelize eggplant, cut a medium eggplant into 1" cubes, season with salt and pepper, and saute in a generous 4 tablespoons of olive oil  in a medium-hot skillet until golden brown and soft.  When the cubes begin to brown  sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon sugar to get the caramelization process going.  Watch carefully so they don't burn.  This takes from 5-7 minutes.




The fun thing about pizza is that there are endless topping combinations, especially in the summer when the market is full of vegetables, and they are all good.  Except pineapple, don't like that...no, no, no.  
I love roasted tomatoes and peppers, pesto, mushrooms....

What's your favorite topping?

48 comments:

  1. I never would have thought of putting eggplant on Pizza,but it looks wonderful.
    My son bought me a long wood paddle to transfer the pizza to the hot stone. I found out the hard way that you have to cover your paddle with cornmeal for it to slide.
    Rita

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  2. I love eggplant - almost any way it can be prepared.
    I can see that I am going to have to buy another pizza stone. I gave mine away,and now regret it!

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  3. I love eggplant!! I've already copied the instructions for caramelizing the eggplant.. might use that in a salad.
    Yummmmm!
    Have a great weekend.
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  4. If this is as good as it looks, I want several pieces!! And caramelized eggplant--oh my! No, no, no to the pineapple as well.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  5. Oh look what you've done....7 a.m. and I am craving pizza!!! Friday has quite often been pizza day at our house too!!! That look amazing! I have been wanting to try a pizza on the grill too. Ever do that?

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  6. Great looking pie. Several yaers ago we bought a pizza and it came with breaded and fried eggplant and it's been a favorite every since.

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  7. I love the sound of the caramelized eggplant as a pizza topping. Another 'No' for pineapple on pizza here too!

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  8. Friday is often pizza day around here too Cathy. Love your combinations!!

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  9. This lady would lunch on this anytime ;o)
    Anytime...the term caramelization is mentioned...the greatness of the dish is halfway to pleasing my palate...the rest are the fab ingredients.
    This pizza crust sounds quite interesting. A little planning ahead is not always a bad thing;)
    Our pizza night is usally Sundays...especially when our lunch goes long.

    Ciao for now and have a great weekend.
    Claudia

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  10. Eggplant is definitely one of my favorite pizza toppings and I love that yours is carmelized. It must taste wonderful. Pizza night sounds like fun:)

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  11. Hi, Cathy, you are featured today on Facebook. This pizza looks scrumptious. XX00

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  12. I adore eggplant and pizza ( the feta not so much) and I can tell I am going to love it here!

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  13. Came over from Michael Lee's. Wow, caramelized eggplant ... can't wait to try that! Thanks for the instructions and tip on using cornmeal on the paddle.

    I see you're in the same area as Cathy of Noble Pig. I sure hope I get to visit it one day and sample your area's wines and see the beautiful scenery!

    Shirley

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  14. Anything that gorgeous has to be delicious! I'm trying that eggplant on my next pizza- thanks for sharing!

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  15. Oh....If only I had read this post a few hours ago. I had eggplant from our garden and I also have pizza dough in the freezer. I was wishing for pizza for supper tonight, but breaded the eggplant, and served it with shrimp and rice, since it had to be used. We have a white eggplant still in the garden, so I'll have to try the pizza using that, over the weekend. Thanks for the post.

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  16. Another winner! This sounds so good. I'm the only one in the family who loves eggplant on pizza, so I'll be making this one just for me. The others will never know what they're missing.

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  17. Your Friday pizza event rocks. This pizza looks amazing! Look at those toppings. Delicious!

    My favorite topping...Hmmm. I think that I would have to say that goat cheese and spinach are a couple of my favorite toppings.

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  18. Cathy, our family LOVES pizza night and I've also found that paper works well- especially when the kids want "to do it themselves". This version looks FABULOUS!
    xoxo Pattie

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  19. I love all kinds of pizza....this one looks delicious with the eggplant!
    I usually like a fairly basic supreme style with meat and veggies. Now I'm hungry again.

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  20. What a lovely pizza. this really looks amazing. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  21. Ummm, I'm speechless :) This pizza looks fantastic!! Thank you for sharing..

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  22. Cathy your pizza looks simply fabulous. This is also my favorite go to pizza dough....I love it!
    I must try it with your lovely toppings...I adore eggplant!
    L~xo

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  23. OH MY!!!! What a great idea for a pizza.

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  24. I have now learned that dough is better tasting and better for you if it sits a few days... great recipe.. The pizza looks so fresh and delicious!!!

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  25. I've never tried caramelising egg plant. Sounds wonderful! For me, I love caramelised onions and anchovies on pizza!

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  26. Oh my, would you look at that eggplant? I'm sold just because of that. I actually roast eggplant and eat it all by itself for a veggie. LOVE the idea of including it on a pizza, Cathy.

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  27. oh wow what a fab pizza eggplant is my fav topping so I will have a slice of yours please!

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  28. I love almost anything on a pizza...yes, even pineapple ;) Yours has me drooling...it looks amazing!! We had plain old pepperoni tonight. But, I'm not complaining!

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  29. Picture perfect, Cathy! Looks so colorful!

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  30. I like that you added caramelized eggplant. I will have to try that topping. Also the Wolfgang Puck pizza recipe is great one with a short period for the dough to rise. My favorite pizza topping has to be bacon, followed by artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes.

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  31. I LOVE this recipe! I myself am a big eggplant lover. I know Grumpy will gripe but I am going to try your recipe!

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  32. With some eggplant growing in our garden, this looks like a must try recipe from our garden!

    Bon appetit!
    CCR
    =:~)

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  33. Beautiful pizza and sounds mouth watering.

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  34. One of my childhood friends has become a great pastry chef; she is in business and one of my favorites of hers is her eggplant and tomato pizza/tart; this is why I jumped when I saw your post and figured I was given a chance to figure out how she was making hers! Superb!

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  35. I have eggplant on the brain- love this pizza, it is calling my name. Beautiful. I guess my favorite pizza is simple. Basil and feta with a little sauce that I make up. Great post.

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  36. A lovely pizza, I cant wait to try the crust recipe!

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  37. My dad has had a pizza shop for over 25 years...my favorite pizza to take home from there is topped with eggplant and tomatoes! Your pizza looks perfect!! Thanks for sharing the pizza dough recipe, I have yet to successfully make pizza dough at home!

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  38. This looks awesome and I have all of the ingredients in my fridge! Maybe I'll do it on the grill.

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  39. Eggplant on a pizza? Sounds strange but who knows. While in CT I had a new potato pizza and it was good.

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  40. Wonderful,I like my pizza to be rich with veggie toppings :D

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  41. That is one delicious looking pizza!

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  42. What a beautiful pizza Cathy! My favorite topping is mushrooms and garlic.

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  43. Fantastic. My favorite is anything with veggies- especially farm fresh. The pizza looks wonderful.

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  44. This is my first time here. Found the blog using stumble. Great recipes, but I just love the title of the blog... too cute.

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  45. Friday has been Pizza Night for years in my home. Mushrooms and green peppers are my favs.

    Thanks for the tip about letting the dough rest in the fridge.

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  46. Oh wow. The crust looks so thick! And I love anything with eggplant. Can't wait to dive into this later today.

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Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you enjoyed my blog and will leave a comment or two. And come back again of course ~ Cathy