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1
For the pizza sauce: Mix together sauce ingredients until combined well and set aside.
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2
Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for future use.
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3
For the eggplant: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. I place my pizza stone on the bottom rack and allow it to begin heating up.
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4
Coat the bottom of a sheet pan with the canola oil.
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5
Placed cubed eggplant into a colander and sprinkle with salt (toss to coat well).
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6
Allow to rest for 5 minutes.
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7
Sprinkle flour over eggplant, one tablespoon at a time, and toss until coated.
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8
In a medium bowl, beat the egg and egg whites.
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9
Add the eggplant to the egg wash and gently toss until coated.
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10
Remove, making sure to shake off any excess egg wash.
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11
In a third bowl, mix together eggplant coating ingredients (Panko, bread crumbs, garlic powder, pepper, and dried basil).
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12
Add the eggplant that has been coated in egg wash and gently toss until coated.
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13
Pour entire contents of bowl onto baking sheet and spread into one even layer (make sure none of the eggplant are overlapping).
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14
Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
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15
Eggplant should be nice and crisp, and beginning to brown.
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16
Remove from oven and set aside.
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17
For the pizza: Move pizza stone to middle rack and turn heat up to 450 degrees F. Roll out or hand toss the pizza dough (we hand tossed it to make a nice thick crust).
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18
Sprinkle some corn meal onto pizza stone right before putting dough on it (this helps prevent sticking).
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19
Poke the center of the pizza dough with a fork to prevent it from bubbling up.
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20
Close oven and bake dough for 3-5 minutes.
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21
Remove dough from oven with a pizza peel.
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22
(It should be firm and puffy, but not browning.)
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23
Add desired amount of pizza sauce (I used about 3/4 cup of the above-mentioned recipe).
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24
Next, add cheeses and eggplant.
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25
Bake for another 5-7 minutes.
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26
Last, turn oven on broil and allow crust to brown (only about a minute or so).
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27
Keep a close eye on it while it is broiling!
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28
Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh basil and crushed red pepper, slice with a pizza wheel, and serve.
