Description
A spicy and flavorful Calabrian Chili Roasted Red Pepper Pizza featuring a crispy crust, melted mozzarella, and the smoky heat of Calabrian chili paste, perfect for a quick and gourmet homemade meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- Flour (for dusting)
Toppings
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Calabrian chili paste (or more to taste)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for topping)
Additional
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat thoroughly, ensuring a crispy crust.
- Prepare Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to about 12 inches in diameter for an evenly thin base.
- Transfer Dough: Carefully transfer the rolled dough onto a piece of parchment paper to make handling and transferring easier.
- Brush and Spread Paste: Brush the surface of the dough with olive oil to help toppings stick and enhance flavor, then spread the Calabrian chili paste evenly over the dough for a spicy kick.
- Add Cheese and Peppers: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pizza, then arrange the sliced roasted red peppers on top for sweetness and smoky depth.
- Season and Parmesan: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning evenly over the toppings to add savory layers of flavor.
- Transfer to Oven: Carefully slide the pizza along with the parchment paper onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet to bake.
- Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes until the crust turns golden and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned, indicating perfect doneness.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves if desired. Slice and serve hot for the best experience.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of Calabrian chili paste according to your preferred spice level.
- Using a pizza stone helps achieve a crispier crust but a baking sheet works well too.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the pizza dough with a gluten-free version.
- Fresh basil adds a lovely herbal note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Letting the pizza dough rest before rolling can improve texture and elasticity.
