Enhanced Ortolana Pizza

Ingredients

• Pizza dough (1 batch (store-bought or homemade))
• Tomato sauce (1 cup)
• Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
• Mozzarella cheese (2 cups, shredded)
• Eggplant (1, sliced)
• Zucchini (1, sliced)
• Bell peppers (1, sliced (any color))
• Mushrooms (1 cup, sliced)
• Red onion (1, thinly sliced)
• Olive oil (2 tablespoons, for drizzling)
• Fresh basil (1/4 cup, torn for garnish)
• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat as well.
2. On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness, ensuring it remains even.
3. Carefully transfer the rolled dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or directly onto the preheated pizza stone.
4. In a small bowl, mix the minced garlic into the tomato sauce. Spread this mixture evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
5. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce, ensuring even coverage.
6. Layer the sliced eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, and red onion over the cheese, creating an attractive arrangement.
7. Drizzle the olive oil over the top of the vegetables and season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Once out of the oven, sprinkle the torn fresh basil over the pizza for a fragrant finish.
10. Slice into wedges and serve hot, enjoying the delightful explosion of flavors.