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Za'atar Eggplant Pizza with Tahini Sauce
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3.15 from 14 votes

Za'atar Eggplant Pizza with Tahini Sauce

Inspired by some of my favorite Middle Eastern flavors, this Za'atar Eggplant Pizza is deliciously spiced with a balance of crispy and creamy texture.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Keyword: eggplant pizza, israeli pizza, mediterranean pizza, vegan pizza, Vegetarian Pizza, za'atar
Makes: 1 (12-inch) pizza

Ingredients

  • 1 small to medium eggplant very thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • za'atar spice blend
  • 1 (14- to 16-ounce) ball pizza dough
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs such as mint, parsley, and basil

For the tahini sauce (slightly adapted from the tahini sauce in Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook's ISRAELI SOUL cookbook)

  • 1 cup tahini
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • teaspoon minced garlic
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¾ to 1 cup ice water

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 500°F (if using a baking sheet) or as high as it will go (if using a baking stone/steel; place the stone/steel in the oven before you start preheating).
  • In a colander in the sink, toss the sliced eggplant with the salt. Let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then pat the slices dry with paper towels and set aside on a plate.
  • Stretch or roll out your dough to a 12-inch circle, then transfer it to an oiled baking sheet or a floured pizza peel (if using a baking stone/steel).
  • Brush the eggplant slices on both sides with a little oil and season generously with the za'atar spice blend.
  • Arrange the seasoned eggplant slices on the dough, and brush the edges of the dough with a little olive oil.
  • Transfer the pizza to the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the eggplant looks dry and has browned a bit, 8 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, 6 to 8 minutes on the baking stone/steel.
  • While the pizza bakes, make the tahini sauce. Combine the tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and cumin in a food processor. Process just until combined (about 30 seconds), then keep the motor running and stream in the ice water until the mixture lightens and the sauce becomes smooth and drizzly.
  • Take the pizza out of the oven. Drizzle with the tahini sauce and sprinkle with the fresh herbs. Slice and serve.