Eggplant is an excellent pizza topping. Eggplant can make a wonderfully rich and flavorful pizza, but it’s not a good idea to put it on a pizza raw. Raw eggplant often releases moisture during baking, so a quick pre-cooking will significantly improve the end result. Slicing, salting, and pre-cooking only take a short moment, but will improve both the flavor and texture. It ensures that the eggplant complements the pizza rather than making it watery. Here are some tips how to prepare eggplant for pizza.

An Excellent Pizza Topping

Eggplant is a versatile vegetable that adds a nice texture and mild, delicious flavor to pizza. Although it is a vegetable, cooked eggplant develops a deep, savory flavor through caramelization. Roasting or grilling enhances its natural sweetness and creates a rich, umami-like flavor that complements tomato sauce and cheese. Eggplant’s mild flavor can be easily enhanced with olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices. It pairs especially well with classic Italian ingredients like oregano, basil, thyme, parmesan, and mozzarella.

Eggplant is low in calories but provides dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It allows you to add a rich texture to your pizza without significantly increasing its fat or calorie content. As eggplant ripens, its flesh softens into a smooth, almost buttery texture that contrasts beautifully with the crispy pizza crust and melted cheese. This creamy texture makes every bite even more satisfying.

Why is Pre-Cooking Necessary?

Eggplant contains a lot of water. If you put it on a pizza raw, it will release moisture during baking, making the crust soft and the topping watery. Pre-cooking will evaporate the excess moisture and also improve the flavor. Pre-cooking will caramelize the natural sugars in the eggplant, giving it a slightly sweet flavor. Pre-cooking also ensures a more even baking result because raw eggplant does not soften in the same time as the pizza bakes.

Preparing the eggplant before baking offers several benefits:

• Reduces excess moisture
• Helps keep the pizza crust crispy
• Creates a creamy, soft texture
• Improves flavor
• Ensures even cooking

How to Prepare Eggplant for Pizza

Preparing the eggplant is an easy task. You don’t need to peel it. You can eat the skin of eggplant, and by doing so, you will get the highest concentration of the vegetable’s health benefits.

1. Slice It

• Wash the skin thoroughly under cold running water before cutting
• Cut the eggplant into 6mm (1/4-inch) slices (they get much thinner when they cook)

2. Let It Dry

• Sprinkle salt lightly on both sides and let the slices rest for 20-30 minutes
• During this time, the salt will absorb excess moisture
• Pat the slices dry with paper towels before cooking

3. Add Oil and Season

• Brush or roll the eggplant in olive oil
• If you want to add flavor, you can season with black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning

4. Roast, Grill or Saute

• Roast: Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned
• Grill: Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side to add smoky flavor
• Saute: Cook in a skillet over medium-high heat for 7 to 10 minutes until tender

Versatile Pairings

Eggplant has a mild, slightly sweet, and earthy flavor that complements the savory flavors of the cheese, tomato sauce, and herbs commonly used in pizza. It goes well with a variety of pizza toppings. For example, you can try some of these:

• Mozzarella
• Parmesan
• Goat cheese
• Ricotta
• Roasted garlic
• Spinach
• Mushrooms
• Caramelized onions
• Olives
• Capers
• Italian sausage
• Prosciutto
• Grilled chicken

Quick Tips

• Pre-cook to reduce excess moisture
• Don’t overload on pizza, as too much eggplant can trap moisture
• Pair eggplant with cheeses like mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta, or provolone
• Combine eggplant with mushrooms, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, or olives for extra flavor
• A final drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, or a sprinkle of parmesan after baking will make the eggplant shine