Grilled Vegetable Pizza

INGREDIENTS

For the Pizza Dough:

  • 1 pound (about 4 cups) pizza dough

  • Olive oil, for brushing

For the Pizza Toppings:

  • 1 medium eggplant, sliced into rounds

  • 1 medium zucchini, sliced into rounds

  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

  • Red pepper flakes (optional, for a spicy kick)

For the Tomato Sauce (or use store-bought pizza sauce):

  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

PREPARATION

  1. Prepare the Pizza Dough: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness. Transfer the dough to a pizza peel or a lightly floured cutting board.

  2. Grill the Vegetables: Brush the sliced eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and red onion with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the vegetables on both sides until they are tender and have grill marks, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the grilled vegetables from the grill and set aside.

  3. Prepare the Tomato Sauce: In a small saucepan, heat a bit of olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.

  4. Assemble the Pizza:

    • Spread the prepared tomato sauce evenly over the rolled-out pizza dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.

    • Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.

    • Arrange the grilled vegetables and cherry tomatoes on top of the cheese.

    • Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the vegetables.

    • Optionally, sprinkle with red pepper flakes for some heat.

  5. Grill the Pizza: Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated grill. Close the grill lid and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

  6. Serve: Remove the pizza from the grill and let it cool for a minute. Sprinkle torn fresh basil leaves over the top. Slice and serve hot.

    Enjoy your flavorful and colorful Grilled Vegetable Pizza! Feel free to customize the vegetables and cheese according to your preferences.