Sicilian Deep Dish Eggplant (aubergine) Pizza

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp.)
• 1 cup warm water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 4 cups diced peeled eggplants
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried italian seasoning
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup drained artichoke heart
• 1 cup cubed tomato (1/2 inch)
• 1 cup minced red onion
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Recipe

• 1 dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water in a bowl; let stand 5 minutes.
• 2 lightly spoon 2 3/4 cups flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife.
• 3 add flour, oil and salt to yeast mixture, stirring to form a soft dough.
• 4 turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• 5 knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes).
• 6 add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.
• 7 place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top.
• 8 cover and let rise in a warm place free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
• 9 punch dough down; divide dough in half.
• 10 roll each half of dough into a 11 inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
• 11 place the prepared pizza dough into 2 9-inch cake pans that are lightly greased and sprinkled with cornmeal.
• 12 press dough up the sides of the pan.
• 13 cover and let rise until puffy-- about 30 minutes.
• 14 preheat oven to 375°f.
• 15 combine eggplant and next 3 ingredients.
• 16 place eggplant mixture on a jelly roll pan, spreading evenly.
• 17 bake at 375°f for 30 minutes, or until tender.
• 18 remove eggplant from oven and increase oven temperature to 400°f.
• 19 combine eggplant mixture, artichokes and next 6 ingredients, dividing it equally between the pizza crusts.
• 20 top with cheese.
• 21 bake at 400°f for 30 minutes or until crusts are lightly browned.