Circular pizzas are so last year. Kidding. Despite my undying devotion to the traditional round pizza, I admit that I like trying other shapes every so then. Pizza dough and pepperoni are moulded into hearts to create a heart-shaped pizza.
This is the kind of pizza that would be great for Valentine’s Day, but it’s also great for a regular pizza night.
How to Make a Pizza in the Shape of a Heart
The good news is that you can create this pizza with nearly any kind of pizza dough. My go-to pizza dough recipe calls for no-kneading and is best prepared the night before pizza night.
The heart form may be achieved in pizza in two different ways. As a first step, make sure the dough is at room temperature. It will be exceedingly challenging to form if the temperature is low.
The use of a stretching technique
In order to shape the dough into a heart, you may use your hands to gently move around and stretch it. This won’t be perfectly symmetrical, but it will save you money. Since the dough has a propensity to bunch up as you form the heart, you will likely have a little thicker crust on the tip and on top.
Technique for Shortening
Despite the financial setback, this is the approach I choose. The dough should be rolled out into a perfect circle, and then the indent at the top of the heart should be cut out using a dough scraper or pizza cutter. The bottom of the heart should be stretched and the tip cut off. The process is simple, and the end result is stunning.
Pepperoni Hearts Need to Be Snipped
Cutting your pepperoni into heart shapes is completely optional, but it adds a cute presentation and, bonus!, more pepperoni to your pizza!
Pepperoni may be folded in half and then the top half trimmed at an angle using a paring knife or kitchen scissors to create a heart shape. The heart’s point is where you’ll cut, so go ahead and do that. When you get the hang of it, you’ll find it’s quite simple.
For optimum pepperoni taste, save the pepperoni scraps and layer them beneath the cheese.
Pizza Sauce Prepared at Home
I’ve written out how to make a pizza sauce with a variety of dried herbs. It’s delicious and only takes a few minutes to mix together. Use the sauce I created for these simple pepperoni pizzas if you like a pizza sauce with a stronger onion and garlic flavor.
How to Make the Best Pepperoni Pizza Ever
If you make your own dough and sauce and use high-quality ingredients, it’s almost impossible to ruin a pizza. You can never have too much pizza, so here are some of my favourite ways to make it even better.
- Make pizza on a stone. If you don’t have a pizza stone, you should invest in one; they’re cheap and essential for getting a good crust while baking. Definitely worth the price. (As they cook, they may produce smoke, so open a window and run a fan.)
- Pepperoni to the max! Dice some more pepperoni and layer it beneath the cheese in the pizza sauce if you’re creating a pepperoni pizza.
- Use moderation with the condiments. Make sure the pizza sauce and toppings are still visible through the cheese and pepperoni.
- Aim for leftovers, and then some. The greatest kind of pizza is the one you find in the fridge the next day.
Fed up with Pepperoni? Put These Variations to the Test!
- Smoked gouda, shredded chicken, diced red onion, and chopped cilantro in a BBQ sauce that may be purchased or produced at home.
- Ham and pineapple in little cubes top this Hawaiian pizza (if you are using canned pineapple, be sure to dry it well before adding it to the pizza)
- One of my favourite pizza topping combos is sausage and peppers, which consists of Italian sausage crumbles and thinly sliced red and green peppers.
Optimal Reheating Conditions for Pizza
The easiest method to reheat leftover pizza is in a big pan over medium-low heat with a sprinkle of oil. Keep the lid on the pizza while it’s cooking to ensure the cheese melts and the dough becomes nice and crispy in the pan.
Ingredients
The Perfect Pizza Sauce, Made with Herbs
- A single 15-ounce can of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of pure olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 fresh basil leaf
- A single teaspoon of dried oregano
- A Garlic Seasoning Serving Equals One Teaspoon
- A pinch of crushed red pepper
With respect to the pizza
- 1-pound pre-risen pizza dough
- Dusting flour, to be used on the counter
- Slices of pepperoni, approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter, multiplied by 10 or 12
- Shredded 12 oz. low-moisture mozzarella (about 3 cups)
- Leaves of fresh basil, for decoration.
Method
1. Set the oven temperature to 500 degrees Fahrenheit:
It’s best to have a pizza stone nice and hot in the oven before you start cooking.
2. Produce the pizza herb sauce by:
Put all the ingredients for the herb pizza sauce into a medium bowl and mix them together well. Ignore for the time being.
3. The pepperoni should be formed as follows:
With a paring knife or kitchen shears, cut an angle off the top of each pepperoni half that has been folded in half. The heart’s point is where you’ll cut, so go ahead and do that. The leftover pepperoni scraps will come in handy.
4. Curve the pizza dough:
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a big circle, at least 12 inches in diameter. There are two possible outcomes when attempting to form a heart shape:
Option 1: Cut a heart shape out of the dough using a pizza cutter, dough scraper, or kitchen scissors. In exchange for a more presentable heart, some cash is sacrificed in this process.
Method 2: Form the dough into a rough heart shape with your hands. More dough will be saved, and the crust will be thicker, but a well-defined heart will be difficult to achieve.
5. Pizza toppings:
Using a floured pizza peel, transfer the dough. Top the dough with the herb pizza sauce and the pepperoni scraps you saved. Top with shredded cheese and pepperoni cut into hearts.
6. Ready for the oven and the table:
Using a pizza peel, transfer the pizza to the pizza stone, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pizza is crisp on the outside and bubbling in the inside (a pizza baked on a baking sheet will take longer, about 14-15 minutes).
Use fresh basil leaves as a garnish. After a short resting period, cut the pizza into slices and serve.
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