Mediterranean Pizza

This pizza is delicious, whether you make homemade hummus or use store-bought. If hummus isn’t your thing, you can use tomato sauce instead and top it with the sautéed eggplant. I really enjoy the flavors of this recipe and love the creaminess of the hummus. Enjoy!

This recipe first appeared in my recipe column, Mixing with Zest, in The Westfield Leader on March 4, 2021 on Page 14.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-size pre-made pizza crusts (or whatever size you would like)

• 1 (15.5 oz.) can chickpeas 

• ~10 Kalamata olives (pitted) + a few extra if you want to add some as toppings

• 5 garlic cloves (you can add more or less depending on your preference)

• 1 medium shallot

• ½ cup olive oil (+ more for your skillet)

• Pinch of salt 

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

• ¼ teaspoon onion powder

• ¼ teaspoon paprika

• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

• ¼ teaspoon Trade Joe’s Umami Seasoning Blend (this isn’t necessary if you don’t have it)

• Parmesan cheese (to your liking)

Directions for Kalamata Hummus:

1. Drain and rinse your chickpeas and add them to your blender

2. Add a pinch of salt and pepper

3. Add ~10 Kalamata olives

4. Add ½ cup olive oil

5. Blend until smooth (Be sure to scrape the sides of the blender so it’s well combined. Once finished, set to the side)

Directions for pizza:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Heat ~2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet

3. Dice the shallot and garlic cloves. Add to the skillet

4. Sauté on low for a few minutes until transparent

5. While your shallot and garlic are sautéing, cut your eggplant into small cubes

6. Add cubed eggplant to the skillet and mix. Drizzle with a bit of additional olive oil (~another 4 tablespoons or until you feel it’s moist). 

7. Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, and Trader Joe’s Umami Seasoning Blend (if you have it) to the skillet

8. Cook on low for around 20 minutes or until the eggplant is cooked down and soft. Mix every few minutes.

9. While your eggplant is cooking, place your pizza crusts on a non-stick cookie sheet. Spread the homemade hummus on top of the pizza crusts like you would for any pizza sauce.

10. Once the eggplant is soft, evenly spread it on top of both the pizzas and sprinkle with parmesan cheese

11. Bake for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven, slice and enjoy!