Mediterranean Vegetable Pie | Make Ahead Recipe

Filled to the brim with delicious vegetables, mozzarella cheese and Mediterranean spices, this Mediterranean Vegetable Pie makes everyone happy, even without the meat. This lighter pie recipe is a quick and easy dinner or lunch recipe to make ahead and then throw in the oven when you're ready to eat! Use a pre-made pie dough to expedite dinner even more.

Ingredients

• Eggplant - this recipe uses about 2 medium eggplants, or 1 pound
• Sweet onion - a yellow onion gives lots of flavor
• Zucchini - about 3 medium, no need to peel
• Tomatoes - Roma tomatoes work best for this pie, but feel free to use your favorite
• Garlic - minced
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Dried oregano, basil, salt and pepper - here comes the flavor!
• Package pie crust - use store-bought or homemade
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Shredded mozzarella - fresh is better than pre-shredded

Delicious Meatless Monday

With the cost of meat these days and the lack of availability for good quality meat, I've been turning towards more vegetarian recipes that are still filling and full of flavor. This easy Mediterranean vegetable pie fills up the whole family, tastes amazing and is full of vitamins and minerals.

After the first bite of this pie, I’m feeling the love around the table in both directions! Who knew vegetables could be so delicious? And with 2 kinds of cheese and plenty of herbs, this vegetable pie will have you going for seconds.

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425° F. Remove pie crusts from refrigerator and allow set out until pliable.
• Prep the eggplant by cutting ½ inch off both ends. Then slice all the skin off and cut into ½ inch rounds. 
• Place eggplant rounds on paper towels and sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt evenly over top. Place another layer of paper towels on top of slices and place something heavy on top. I used my cutting board and then put a couple bowls on top. This is the best way to extract as much moisture as possible so the pie doesn't get too wet.
• Leave eggplant for 30 minutes and let the paper towels soak up as much moisture as possible. 
• While eggplant is resting, dice onion, garlic and zucchini into pieces. Set aside.
• When eggplant is done resting, dice into ¼" cubes. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in skillet on medium heat. Add eggplant, zucchini, onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring often, until tender (about 5 minutes). Set aside. 
• Combine oregano, basil, remaining salt and pepper in small bowl. Set aside. 
• Chop the tomatoes into ½" pieces, removing the seeds and as much wet stuff as possible. 
• Lay 1 crust into pie dish and gently mold crust against the sides and bottom. Add ½ the vegetable mixture and ½ the tomatoes to the pie crust. Sprinkle with ½ the herbs and ½ the parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.
• Repeat layers.
• Place second pie crust on top of Mediterranean Vegetable Pie and crimp edges so the pie crusts are sealed around the edges. For a dark and shiny crust, brush with 1 egg yolk and then sprinkle with parmesan. 
• Place in the center of preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, until top is brown and bottom crust is fully baked.
• Once pie crust is fully cooked and pie is heated through, remove from oven and allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing. Best enjoyed with a crusty french bread to soak up the vegetable juices!

Everything should come wrapped in pie crust, right?

I mean, seriously, wouldn’t everything be more delicious wrapped in pie crust? Isn't it just so pretty!? You almost don't want to cut into it...almost. This really sets apart this Mediterranean Vegetable Pie.

I had fun searching for easy ways to decorate your pie crust without needing any special cutters or stamps or spending forever braiding or lattice-ing. Plus, my simple fork method took about 20 seconds and really gave the crust that special touch.

Gluten Free

The filling is already gluten free in this Mediterranean Vegetable Pie, but if you need a gluten free pie crust, try this homemade crust like this one here from Mama Gourmand. Or purchase a pre-made gluten free crust. I love using a glass pie dish so I can easily see if the bottom is done.

If you're needing an outstanding gluten free dessert too, try our flourless chocolate cake! It's really amazing.

So don’t be afraid of your vegetarian (or gluten-free) friends anymore! Now you can invite them over without apprehension and make them this Mediterranean vegetable pie. And they’ll love you forever, even though you’re a carnivore.