Prev Recipe Next Recipe

Loading Video...

Mini Pizzas

Recipe courtesy of Laura Vitale

Show: Simply Laura

Episode: The Little Black Dress Ingredient

Mini Pizzas

Name: Mini Pizzas
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H5M0.000S
Yield: 14 mini pizzas
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 3 cloves garlic, minced; One 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, crushed by hand; 1 teaspoon granulated sugar; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn by hand; Semolina, for sprinkling; Two 1-pound balls pizza dough, store-bought or Laura's Basic Pizza Dough, recipe follows; Pitted and sliced kalamata olives; Crumbled feta; Fresh oregano leaves; Grated lemon zest, for garnish after baking; Crumbled cooked bacon; Thinly sliced red onion; Shredded mozzarella; Grilled eggplant; Grilled mushrooms; Shredded smoked mozzarella; 1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees F); 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar; One 1/4-ounce envelope active dry yeast; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing; 3 teaspoons salt; 3 1/2 to 4 cups Italian 00 flour or, if you cant get your hands on it, regular all-purpose flour will do

Getting reviews...

Level: Easy

Total: 1 hr 5 min
Active: 30 min

Yield: 14 mini pizzas

Level: Easy

Total: 1 hr 5 min
Active: 30 min

Yield: 14 mini pizzas

Ingredients

Marinara Sauce:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

One 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, crushed by hand

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn by hand

Pizza:

Semolina, for sprinkling

Two 1-pound balls pizza dough, store-bought or Laura's Basic Pizza Dough, recipe follows

Greek Version:

Pitted and sliced kalamata olives

Crumbled feta

Fresh oregano leaves

Grated lemon zest, for garnish after baking

Bacon and Onion Version:

Crumbled cooked bacon

Thinly sliced red onion

Shredded mozzarella

Grilled and Smoky Version:

Grilled eggplant

Grilled mushrooms

Shredded smoked mozzarella

Laura's Basic Pizza Dough

1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees F)

2 1/2 teaspoons sugar

One 1/4-ounce envelope active dry yeast

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

3 teaspoons salt

3 1/2 to 4 cups Italian 00 flour or, if you cant get your hands on it, regular all-purpose flour will do

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

Special equipment:

a 4 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, optional

For the marinara sauce: In an 8-inch saucepan, add the olive oil along with the onion and turn the heat to medium. Add a small pinch of salt and saute until the onion softens and develops a bit of color, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes along with the sugar and oregano, partially cover the saucepan with a lid, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce reduces and deepens in color, about 20 minutes.
Remove the lid, add the basil, season with salt and pepper to taste and cook for 5 additional minutes.
For the pizza: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Sprinkle some semolina on a couple of baking sheets and set aside.
Roll out each ball of dough into a 15-inch circle using either your hands or a rolling pin. Using a large biscuit cutter or an upside-down bowl, cut out 4 1/2-inch circles and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Top the mini pizzas with some of the marinara sauce, followed by your desired toppings, making sure to leave a little border all around. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 8 to 10 minutes.

Laura's Basic Pizza Dough

Yield: Dough for 2 pizzas

Add the warm water in a small bowl and sprinkle over 1 teaspoon of the sugar and the yeast; set aside so the yeast can proof.
Oil two bowls with a little olive oil and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough attachment, mix together the olive oil, salt, 3 1/2 cups of the flour and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. Stir the yeast in the water to make sure its all dissolved and add it to the flour mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until everything is combined. Increase the speed to medium and allow the machine to knead the dough, adding more flour if necessary, until it is smooth and comes away from the side of the bowl, 6 to 7 minutes.
Divide the dough in two pieces and roll each into a ball. Place a ball in each of the oiled bowls seam-side down, and brush the tops with a little oil to stop them from drying out. Cover the bowls with plastic wrap and place in a warm place (inside a microwave or a turned-off oven works best) until it doubles in size and when poked with a finger, the indent remains (it doesn't spring back), about 1 1/2 hours.
Once the dough has risen, use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.