Delicious Grilled Naan Pizzas with Caramelized Eggplant, Roasted Red Peppers, and Ricotta
Transform your weeknight dinner with these incredible grilled naan pizzas, featuring sweet caramelized eggplant, vibrant roasted red peppers, and a luxurious layer of creamy ricotta. This recipe offers a delightful blend of flavors and textures, promising a gourmet pizza experience that’s both easy to make and universally loved. Whether you’re firing up the grill for a summer evening or opting for the oven, these individual flatbread pizzas are destined to become a new family favorite, perfect for customizing and sharing.
This post is sponsored by bubly™ sparkling water. The opinions and text are all mine.
Why Naan Makes the Perfect Pizza Crust
Using naan flatbreads as a base for pizza crust is a culinary game-changer. These delightful Indian-inspired breads provide a perfectly sized canvas for individual pizzas, making mealtime both fun and incredibly convenient. Naan’s inherent chewiness, combined with its soft and slightly airy texture, transforms beautifully when subjected to high heat. On the grill, it develops a fantastic char and crispness, imparting a subtle smoky flavor that elevates the entire pizza. In the oven, it bakes up to a golden-brown perfection, offering a satisfying crunch with every bite.
The beauty of naan pizzas lies in their versatility and ease of customization. For families and friends, this means everyone can design their own culinary masterpiece. Are you a fan of extra vegetables, piling on everything from mushrooms to olives? Or perhaps you prefer a lighter touch, ideal for picky eaters who might favor just cheese and a touch of one or two toppings. With naan as your foundation, the possibilities are truly endless, making pizza night an interactive and enjoyable experience for all ages. It eliminates the fuss of dough preparation, allowing you to focus on the exciting part: creating a flavor symphony with your chosen toppings. Find more flatbread inspiration with our air fryer flatbread recipe.
The Ultimate Flavor Trio: Eggplant, Roasted Peppers, and Creamy Ricotta
The topping combination for these grilled naan pizzas is nothing short of spectacular. We’re talking about a harmonious blend of caramelized eggplant, sweet and smoky roasted red peppers, and a rich, creamy ricotta base that truly sets these pizzas apart. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in delivering a balanced and deeply satisfying flavor profile.
Caramelized Eggplant: A Sweet & Earthy Delight
Eggplant, when properly prepared, is a magnificent pizza topping. Our recipe calls for caramelizing the eggplant, a process that brings out its inherent sweetness and tenderness. To achieve this, we first slice the eggplant into thin coins and sprinkle them with salt. This crucial step, known as “sweating” the eggplant, draws out excess moisture and bitterness, preventing the eggplant from becoming soggy during grilling. After a short rest, patting the slices dry ensures they’re ready to absorb the olive oil and achieve that beautiful, slightly charred caramelization on the grill. The result is eggplant that’s incredibly soft, with a depth of savory-sweet flavor that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
Roasted Red Peppers: A Burst of Smoky Sweetness
Roasted red peppers add a vibrant color, a hint of smokiness, and a wonderfully sweet counterpoint to the earthy eggplant. While you can certainly roast your own red peppers for an even more intense flavor, jarred roasted red pepper slices are a fantastic shortcut that doesn’t compromise on taste or quality. They provide convenience without sacrificing the essential sweet and tangy notes that make this topping so appealing. Their soft texture integrates seamlessly into the pizza, distributing their unique flavor throughout each bite.
Creamy Ricotta: The Unsung Hero Base
Moving away from traditional tomato-based sauces, a generous layer of creamy ricotta cheese forms the foundation of these naan pizzas. Ricotta offers a delicate, milky flavor and a luxurious texture that feels gourmet yet comforting. We enhance this base by seasoning it with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle warmth. This seasoned ricotta acts as a magnificent canvas, providing a cool, tangy contrast to the rich eggplant and sweet peppers. It melts beautifully into the naan, creating a moist and flavorful layer that holds all the toppings together.
Mozzarella and Pesto: Finishing Touches of Classic Flavor
A sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese adds that familiar, stretchy, gooey pizza goodness, melding all the flavors together under its golden melt. Finally, a drizzle of fresh pesto after grilling brings a burst of herbaceous brightness and a garlicky tang, tying all the components of this Mediterranean-inspired pizza together into a cohesive and unforgettable dish.
Pairing Perfection: Grapefruit bubly™ Sparkling Water
No delicious meal is complete without the perfect beverage, and for these grilled naan pizzas, grapefruit bubly™ sparkling water from Publix is an ideal companion. The crisp, invigorating citrus notes of grapefruit bubly™ provide a fantastic balance to the savory and rich flavors of the pizza. Its light, tangy profile cuts through the creamy ricotta and the earthy eggplant, cleansing your palate with every sip and enhancing the overall dining experience. It’s truly been my go-to summer beverage, and I love how seamlessly it pairs with this recipe, especially for outdoor grilling sessions.
For those unfamiliar with bubly™ sparkling water, it’s a delightful option that offers natural fruit flavors without any calories or added sweeteners. This means you can enjoy a deliciously refreshing drink that’s guilt-free and naturally flavorful. With a wide range of fruit essences available, bubly™ has a flavor for everyone. Our 9-year-old even loves them, which speaks volumes about their widespread appeal! You can easily find bubly™ sparkling water in the sparkling water aisle at your local Publix, or for ultimate convenience, simply sign into your Instacart account and have your favorite bubly™ flavors delivered right to your door. The bright, effervescent quality of bubly™ sparkling water elevates any meal, turning a simple dinner into a more celebratory occasion. Try it with other flavors like lime, strawberry, or mango to discover your perfect pizza pairing!
Grilling vs. Oven Baking: Flexible Naan Pizza Recipes for Any Kitchen
I genuinely adore making pizza, and my husband Alex and I even have an Ooni Pizza Oven that we frequently use for our pizza nights. However, I wanted to create a naan pizza recipe that is accessible to everyone, regardless of whether you own a specialized pizza oven. That’s why this recipe is designed to be easily made on a standard outdoor grill or conveniently in your kitchen oven. This flexibility ensures that you can enjoy delicious, homemade pizza without needing any fancy equipment, making it a perfect weeknight meal solution or a fun weekend project.
Grilled Naan Pizzas
- Author: Liz Thomson
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 pizzas
Category: Pizza
Method: Grilled
Cuisine: Pizza
Description
These grilled naan pizzas are topped with caramelized eggplant, roasted red peppers, and creamy ricotta for a delicious pizza the whole family will love!
Ingredients
- 4 large pieces of naan
- 1 small eggplant, sliced into ¼” thick coins
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ cup jarred roasted red pepper slices
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup pesto
Instructions
- Preheat grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat.
- Place the eggplant slices on a paper towel, in a single layer.
- Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 5 minutes, then pat dry with a paper towel. This step helps draw out moisture and bitterness, ensuring perfectly cooked eggplant.
- Brush the naan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. This will help them crisp up beautifully on the grill.
- Grill the naan for 1 minute on each side, just until lightly golden and slightly crispy.
- Brush the eggplant slices with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Grill the eggplant slices for 4-5 minutes per side, or until they are tender and show nice grill marks.
- In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with salt, pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Mix well to combine all the seasonings.
- Spread a thin, even layer of the seasoned ricotta mixture on each grilled flatbread.
- Evenly top the ricotta layer with the tender eggplant slices, vibrant roasted red peppers, and a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Carefully place the assembled pizzas back on the grill. Grill for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and melted, and the crust is golden and crisp. Keep an eye on the heat to prevent burning.
- Remove from the grill, drizzle with fresh pesto, and serve immediately with a refreshing can of grapefruit bubly™ sparkling water for the ultimate meal experience!
No Grill? No Problem! Mastering Naan Pizza in the Oven
While these pizzas truly shine with the smoky char from the grill, you can absolutely achieve fantastic results using your oven. This makes them a perfect year-round meal, regardless of the weather outside. Oven-baked naan pizzas are just as delicious and offer a consistently crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese. Here’s how to adapt the recipe for an indoor cooking experience:
To prepare this mouth-watering recipe in the oven, begin by preheating your oven to a robust 350 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 175 degrees Celsius). For best results and a crispier crust, you can place a pizza stone or baking steel in the oven while it preheats. Once hot, carefully brush each piece of naan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, just as you would for grilling. Place the olive-oiled naan directly onto the preheated pizza stone or a baking sheet and bake for 2-3 minutes. This initial bake helps to crisp up the crust slightly before adding the toppings.
After the initial bake, remove the naan from the oven. Next, you’ll want to prepare your eggplant. While the grill adds a unique smoky flavor, oven-roasting or even pan-frying the eggplant before assembly works wonderfully. Toss the salted and patted-dry eggplant slices with the remaining olive oil, then bake them on a separate baking sheet for 4-5 minutes, or until they are tender and slightly golden. Alternatively, you can sauté them in a pan over medium heat until softened and lightly browned. Once your eggplant is ready, assemble the pizzas as noted in the recipe above: spread a thin layer of the seasoned ricotta, top with the caramelized eggplant slices, roasted red peppers, and mozzarella cheese.
Finally, return the assembled naan pizzas to the oven. Bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is gloriously melted and bubbly, and the naan crust has achieved your desired level of crispness. For an extra touch of golden-brown perfection, you can carefully turn on the broiler for the last minute or two, watching closely to prevent burning. Serve immediately with a generous drizzle of pesto and your favorite bubly™ sparkling water. This oven method is incredibly straightforward and guarantees a delicious pizza night, no matter the season!
Perfect Pairings and Delicious Variations for Your Naan Pizza Night
These grilled naan pizzas are a meal in themselves, but pairing them with the right sides and experimenting with variations can elevate your dining experience even further. For a complete and refreshing meal, consider serving them alongside a vibrant and light salad. The original suggestions, like a fresh tomato and cucumber salad or a zesty chopped Italian salad, are fantastic choices. These salads offer a crisp texture and bright flavors that beautifully complement the rich and savory notes of the pizzas. You could also opt for a simple green salad with a lemon vinaigrette to keep things light and fresh, or even a classic Caprese salad with ripe tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil.
Beyond the delightful featured toppings, naan pizzas are incredibly adaptable to various flavor combinations. Don’t hesitate to get creative with your ingredients! For cheese lovers, consider adding crumbled feta for a tangy kick, creamy goat cheese for a luxurious texture, or even smoked gouda for a deeper, more complex flavor. Enhance the vegetable profile by incorporating thinly sliced red onions, sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach (added during the last few minutes of baking), artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes. If you’re looking to add protein, grilled chicken, Italian sausage (cooked beforehand), or plant-based options like crumbled tempeh would work wonderfully.
You can also play with different sauces. While our ricotta base is stellar, a light olive oil and garlic base, a different type of pesto (like sun-dried tomato pesto), or a very thin layer of high-quality marinara sauce could be delicious alternatives. Fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or a sprinkle of fresh rosemary after grilling will add an aromatic finish. This meal will quickly become a family favorite, offering endless possibilities for customization and enjoyment!
Why These Grilled Naan Pizzas Will Become a Family Favorite
In a world where quick and satisfying meals are highly sought after, these grilled naan pizzas truly stand out. They offer a winning combination of speed, flavor, and versatility that appeals to virtually everyone. The use of naan as a ready-made crust dramatically cuts down on prep time, making it feasible to whip up a gourmet-ttasting pizza even on the busiest weeknights. The careful layering of caramelized eggplant, vibrant roasted red peppers, and a creamy ricotta base creates a sophisticated yet approachable flavor profile that feels both comforting and special.
Furthermore, the ability to cook these pizzas on either a grill or in the oven adds to their universal appeal, ensuring that delicious homemade pizza is always within reach, no matter your kitchen setup or the weather outside. The individual portions make them perfect for family dinners where everyone has different preferences, fostering a fun, interactive cooking experience. Plus, they’re packed with flavorful vegetables, offering a delightful way to increase your veggie intake without compromising on taste. Once you try these crispy, cheesy, and beautifully topped naan pizzas, you’ll understand why they’re destined to become a staple in your culinary repertoire. They bring joy, ease, and incredible taste to any table.
What’s your favorite pizza topping combination, and which flavor of bubly™ sparkling water would you pair with your perfect pizza creation? Share your thoughts using #bublypartner!