Pizza Ortolana: The Best Vegetarian Pizza Recipe
Pizza Ortolana is a delightful vegetarian pizza loaded with fresh, colorful vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes, topped with molten mozzarella and a flavorful pizza sauce. This recipe highlights a perfect balance of smoky, tangy, and creamy textures, making it a wholesome option for vegetable lovers craving authentic Italian flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 pizza (serves 2-3)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pizza Base
- 1 ball pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
Sauce
- 100 ml pizza sauce
Cheese
- 125 g buffalo mozzarella or regular mozzarella
Vegetables
- 4 slices eggplant (fried or grilled)
- 4 halves sun-dried tomatoes (drained)
- 4 slices zucchini (raw or grilled)
- 4 slices bell peppers (roasted or grilled)
Finishing Touch
- A swirl of olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface into a round shape about 12 inches in diameter, ensuring an even thickness for a uniform bake.
- Add the Sauce: Spread the 100 ml of pizza sauce evenly over the rolled dough, leaving a small border around the edges for the crust.
- Add the Cheese: Tear the buffalo or regular mozzarella into small chunks and distribute them evenly over the sauce to ensure every slice gets gooey cheese.
- Layer the Vegetables: Arrange the fried or grilled eggplant slices, sun-dried tomato halves, zucchini slices (either raw or grilled), and roasted or grilled bell peppers on top of the cheese, distributing them evenly.
- Final Touch: Drizzle a swirl of olive oil over the assembled pizza to enhance flavor and aid in browning during baking.
- Bake the Pizza: Preheat the oven to 220°C (430°F). Transfer the pizza onto a preheated pizza stone or baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven, let it cool for a couple of minutes, slice, and serve warm for the best taste experience.
Notes
- You can grill or fry the eggplant slices based on your preferred texture—grilled for smoky flavor, fried for a richer taste.
- If using raw zucchini and bell peppers, slicing them thinly will help them cook better in the oven.
- Using buffalo mozzarella provides a creamier texture and richer flavor but regular mozzarella works perfectly well.
- Drizzling high-quality extra virgin olive oil enhances the aroma and finish of the pizza.
