Description
A spicy and flavorful Calabrian Chili Roasted Red Pepper Pizza featuring a crisp thin crust topped with a zesty Calabrian chili paste, sweet roasted red peppers, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, finished with aromatic Italian seasoning and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- Flour (for dusting)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
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)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C) and place a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat. This ensures a hot surface for the crust to crisp up perfectly.
- Roll Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to about 12 inches wide. This creates the foundation for your pizza with a uniform thickness.
- Transfer Dough: Move the rolled dough onto a piece of parchment paper to make handling and transferring easier when baking.
- Prepare Base: Brush the dough evenly with olive oil, then spread the Calabrian chili paste over the surface to infuse the pizza with spicy heat and flavor.
- Add Cheese and Peppers: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly across the dough, then top with the sliced roasted red peppers for sweetness and texture.
- Season and Cheese: Scatter grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning over the top to add savory depth and Italian herb notes.
- Bake Pizza: Carefully slide the pizza, still on the parchment paper, onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the crust is golden, and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves if using. Slice and serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Use a pizza stone for best results, but a baking sheet works as an alternative.
- Adjust Calabrian chili paste quantity to suit your preferred spice level.
- Let the pizza dough come to room temperature before rolling for easier handling.
- Fresh basil adds a wonderful fresh herbal note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- For a crispier crust, preheat your pizza stone or baking sheet for at least 30 minutes before baking.
