Spicy Caprese Pizza

Caprese Pizza with Spicy Chili Peppers

Ingredients:

For the Pizza:

• 1 pre-made pizza dough (whole wheat or regular)

• 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced

• 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

• Fresh basil leaves

• Salt and black pepper to taste

• Olive oil for drizzling

For the Spicy Chili Pepper Option:

• 2-3 spicy chili peppers (such as jalapeños or red chilies), thinly sliced

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

• Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven according to the pizza dough package instructions.

• Prepare the Spicy Chili Peppers (Optional):

  • In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

  • Add the minced garlic and sliced chili peppers. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes until the peppers are slightly softened.

  • Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Set aside.

• Roll Out the Dough:

  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to your desired thickness.

• Assemble the Pizza:

  • Place the rolled-out dough onto a pizza stone or baking sheet.

  • If using the spicy chili pepper option, spread the sautéed chili peppers and garlic mixture evenly over the dough.

• Layer the Toppings:

  • Arrange the sliced tomatoes over the dough, slightly overlapping.

  • Place slices of fresh mozzarella evenly over the tomatoes.

  • Sprinkle a bit of salt and black pepper over the cheese.

• Bake the Pizza:

  • Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake according to the dough package instructions or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

• Add Fresh Basil:

  • Once the pizza is out of the oven, immediately top it with fresh basil leaves. The heat from the pizza will help release the fragrant aroma of the basil.

• Drizzle with Olive Oil:

  • Drizzle a bit of high-quality olive oil over the top of the pizza for extra flavor.

• Slice and Serve:

  • Use a pizza cutter to slice the Caprese Pizza into slices.

  • Serve hot and enjoy!

This Caprese Pizza offers a perfect combination of fresh flavors from the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, with the option to add some spicy chili peppers for an extra kick.