These tasty brinjal pizza bites are perfect for day-time snacks. Plus, brinjals are great for weight loss and digestion, so it’s the perfect alternative to your usual pizza.

MAKES 12 // COOKING TIME 50 min

INGREDIENTS
For the Napoletana sauce
Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 sprigs origanum
2 cloves garlic
1 bay leaf
1½ kg tomatoes, chopped
¾ cup basil
For the brinjals
2 large brinjals, sliced into rounds
Olive oil
1 cup Napoletana sauce
300 g mozzarella, sliced
Fresh basil

METHOD
For the sauce
1. Heat olive oil in a pot and fry onion.
2. Add origanum, garlic and bay leaf. Cook for 1 min.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and simmer for 40 min. Add basil, cook for 5 min and season to taste.
For the brinjals
1. Preheat oven to 220°C.
2. Arrange brinjal slices on a baking tray and brush each one with a little olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes, until just tender.
3. Remove from oven, spoon some sauce on to each slice and top with a slice of mozzarella.
4. Switch the oven to grill.
5. Grill the slices 3–5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
6. Top with basil leaves and serve immediately.

Recipe & Styling: Brita Du Plessis
Photography: Kendall-Leigh Nash