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Calabapizza with Cheese and Onion

Vegetables
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Today I'm making a zucchini 'calabapizza' with cheese and onion, a simple and different way to enjoy baked zucchini. I use thin slices to build the base and top them with high-protein cheese, white onion, cherry tomatoes, garlic powder, and that touch of basil I love so much. The thin slices help the zucchini cook evenly, although the base stays tender, not crispy like pizza dough.

This zucchini and onion pizza is a great option for dinner for two when you feel like eating vegetables in a fresh new way. It takes just 15 minutes of prep and 20 in the oven to enjoy simple zucchini with onion and melted cheese, without having to make any dough.

If you love vegetables with cheese, I recommend my Neapolitan-style zucchini slices and Roasted butternut squash with goat cheese and red onion.

Prep: 15 minCook: 20 minServes: 2

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need for this recipe

  • 2 small zucchinis
  • 120g high-protein cheese
  • 1 white onion
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Pink Himalayan salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Basil

Step by step

Method

  1. 1Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
  2. 2Wash the zucchinis well and slice them thinly using a mandoline.
  3. 3Arrange the zucchini slices overlapping on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, shaping them into a pizza base.
  4. 4Season with garlic powder and pink salt to taste.
  5. 5Next, trim the rind off the smoked high-protein cheese and grate it using a coarse grater.
  6. 6Spread the grated cheese evenly over the zucchini base.
  7. 7Peel the onion and, using the same mandoline, slice it very thinly to scatter over the cheese.
  8. 8Cut a few cherry tomatoes in half and arrange them nicely on top.
  9. 9Bake at 180ºC until the cheese melts and turns lightly golden, then finish with fresh basil once out of the oven.
  10. 10Done! Our Calabapizza with cheese and onion is ready.

Tips & notes

  1. 1Feel free to season with any spices you like.
  2. 2You can add fresh sliced tomato over the zucchini, but keep in mind that both zucchini and tomatoes release plenty of water, which could make the base very soggy. It won't get crispy, but it holds together thanks to the melted cheese; with raw tomato, the toppings might slide right off.
  3. 3If you don't have smoked high-protein cheese, regular high-protein cheese works, or any low-fat melting cheese will do.
  4. 4Watch your fingers with the mandoline—always use the safety guard!

Frequently asked questions

Can I substitute mozzarella for the high-protein cheese?

Yes, you can use mozzarella or any other good melting cheese. If you choose fresh mozzarella, drain and pat it dry thoroughly before adding it so you don't add extra moisture to the zucchini base.

Does the zucchini pizza base turn out crispy?

No, the sliced zucchini base stays tender, not crispy like pizza dough. Slice the rounds thinly and evenly so they cook through uniformly.

How do I store leftover zucchini pizza?

Store it in an airtight container in the fridge within two hours of baking and enjoy within 2-3 days. To reheat, I prefer using the oven until it is thoroughly hot in the center.

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