Reader recipe: Persian pizza

Name: Reader recipe: Persian pizza
Ingredients: 3 Tomatoes, large, chopped (Main); 3 cloves Garlic; 1 tsp Dried basil; 1 tsp Dried oregano; 1 tsp Sugar; 1 tsp Salt; 10 ml Olive oil; 2 tsp Tomato paste; 100 g Lamb fillets, cut in 1cm cubes (Main); 150 g Feta, Persian, or creamy; 2 Tbsp Rosemary, chopped; 2 Tbsp Mint, chopped, plus extra leaves to garnish; 1 Eggplant, large, cut in 2cm circles; 5 Cherry tomatoes, chopped in half; 1 tsp Turmeric powder; 1 ½ cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded (Main); 1 bottle Vegetable oil, for frying; 1 Pizza base

Bite

Sean Kaisar won the reader recipe competition for his pizza recipe. He says “this is a very popular Middle Eastern pizza. I learnt this recipe from my mother who was born in Iran."

Sauce

3	Tomatoes, large, chopped (Main)
3 cloves	Garlic
1 tsp	Dried basil
1 tsp	Dried oregano
1 tsp	Sugar
1 tsp	Salt
10 ml	Olive oil
2 tsp	Tomato paste

Pizza

100 g	Lamb fillets, cut in 1cm cubes (Main)
150 g	Feta, Persian, or creamy
2 Tbsp	Rosemary, chopped
2 Tbsp	Mint, chopped, plus extra leaves to garnish
1	Eggplant, large, cut in 2cm circles
5	Cherry tomatoes, chopped in half
1 tsp	Turmeric powder
1 ½ cups	Mozzarella cheese, shredded (Main)
1 bottle	Vegetable oil, for frying
1	Pizza base

Directions

For the sauce, put all ingredients in a blender and make a puree. Heat a saucepan and cook the puree over a medium heat, stirring constantly. When the liquid has reduced and formed a sauce, turn of the heat and set aside.
Place the lamb and feta in two separate bowls and divide the rosemary and mint between them. Cover both with oil. It is better to marinade them one day beforehand.
Pour some oil in a frying pan (about 2cm). Add turmeric and fry the eggplant over medium to low heat on each side. Drain on paper towel to absorb excess oil.
To make the pizza, spread the pizza sauce over a pizza base, followed by some mozzarella cheese. Then layer the fried eggplants followed by the rest of the mozzarella. Add diced lamb, feta and cherry tomatoes. Bake for 15-20 min in a 180C oven. Garnish with some fresh chopped mint.