Watch ’em inhale these mini pizzas
If you want to wow your gang during an Oscar viewing party, on game day or during a Netflixbinging session, mini pizzas are a great way to go.
And no need to make this an all-day project: There are plenty of shortcuts to take. You could make your own pizza dough or buy it at the supermarket or a local pizzeria. You could make your own tomato sauce, or just buy a jar. Then all that’s left are the toppings. You can prepare as many as you like and then mix and match them on the pizzas.
Another thing that makes these pizzas easy: All of the toppings are uncooked. Chopping them finely allows them to cook quickly in the time it takes for the rest of the pizza to bake.
How much of each topping you’ll need will depend on how many options you have. Serves: about 5
1 lb (454 g) store-bought or homemade pizza dough
1 cup (250 mL) tomato sauce (such as a jarred pasta sauce) Cornmeal for sprinkling Shredded mozzarella Other shredded or crumbled cheeses, such as feta, cheddar, Monterey Jack, smoked mozzarella, fontina, Gouda or Swiss-style cheeses Finely chopped red onion Finely chopped bell peppers or roasted peppers
Finely chopped tomatoes Pepperoni, thinly sliced crosswise (or try different kinds of salami or cured meats) Chopped fresh oregano, or dried oregano
Red pepper flakes
1. Bring the pizza dough to room temperature in a bowl, draped with some plastic wrap.
2. Preheat oven to 500 F (260 C). If you have parchment paper, line the baking sheets with that. Lightly oil the baking sheet or the parchment, or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle the parchment or baking sheet lightly with cornmeal.
3. Divide the dough in half, and then each half into halves again. Then divide each quarter into five pieces. This way your pizzas will all be close to the same size.
4. Use a rolling pin to press each piece of dough into a flat circle about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. (You can also press with your fingers, but a rolling pin is easier.) Place them on the baking sheet and let sit for about 15 minutes.
5. Spoon about 1 tsp (5 mL) of sauce onto each round, spreading it almost to the edges. Sprinkle about 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the cheese(s) of your choice over the pizzas.
6. Top each one with 1 to 2 tsp (5-10 mL) of toppings, choosing the combo you like best. Sprinkle the pizzas with oregano and/or red pepper flakes as desired.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is cooked through, and the cheese is melted and starts to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven, transfer to a serving platter, and serve hot or warm.